An Appropriate Proverb

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
Proverbs 21:30

Sunday, December 30, 2012

December 31

Proverbs 31:10-31
When Debbie and I were little and we could talk our dad into not going to church (a rarity), he would make us sit down in his den and have 'devotion'. More than once, he read this scripture. And then he would repeat a proverb that his grandmother who had raised him and his brother and sister had told him "a bad woman can toss more out the back door with a teaspoon than a good man can shovel in the front door with a coal shovel".
I would like to say that I understood that then or that I understand it now but truthfully, sometimes I am that bad woman with her teaspoon and sometimes I am not.
That is what is good about proverbs. You have something to reach for, something to measure yourself against. And when you fall short, as you invariably will, next day, pick yourself up and try to do better.
The problem for me comes when I see others who SEEM to be that wife of noble character. Envy is really a destructive, hateful emotion. I compare. I contrast. And I fall short and have major difficulty pulling myself up.

So, in that spirit, let us take a good look at this lovely little piece of scripture. First, this is an acrostic. Oh, we can't see it, but in the original Hebrew, it is an alphabetical poem that lists the characteristics of the type of wife to aspire to having. Loyal, faithful, hardworking, trustworthy with money, industrious, and charitable. These are the characteristics that we should aspire to.
What isn't here? Famous, skinny, beautiful, young, up on all the latest gossip, popular,tanned and well-vacationed.
Lots of stuff to be pondered for both the things that attract us and the things that really bring us joy and satisfaction.

NT -- Revelation 22:1-21
The book of Revelation closes with John urging his readers not to amend or delete anything from his work. Remember this was a letter(s) that he was sending out to the 7 churches that John had cared for prior to his exile. Of course, when they got these messages, some would believe every little word, others would recognize them as apocalyptic messages but all who knew him could understand and appreciate the urgency in his words: "Behold I am coming soon!"
For John, this was the crux of his message. Straighten up, do the work of the Lord so that when the Day of the Lord came, you weren't found wanting. And that Day was coming and coming right quick.

But by far, the best ending to this blog is found in our psalm selection for today. It is what I believe with all my heart:

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.



****************************************
Thank you for reading with me, encouraging me, challenging me, the emails, the cards, the phone calls, the tea dates and the luncheons. Grace and peace to each of you.

This benediction was lifted from a daily devotional Follow the Star that my friend Elizabeth Small recommended to me. You can have it come 365 days but I choose the option to just have it come during Advent. As this is my last day's post, I think it is appropriate for us. Today's message (December 30, 2012) closed with this benediction:

"Depart now in peace, for your eyes have seen the salvation which God has prepared for all people. Grow in strength and wisdom and bring forth a harvest of righteousness and praise.
May God smile upon you and make you strong and wise.
May Christ Jesus and his humble birth fill you with awe.
And may the Holy Spirit open your eyes to the presence of God’s Messiah."

Adapted from Nathan Nettleton, www.laughingbird.net, ©2002



Saturday, December 29, 2012

December 30

OT -- Malachi
My Bible in a Year breaks this book into 2 parts, today and tomorrow. So, I am going to do the complete book today and then save the lovely, lovely Proverbs piece for tomorrow.

Malachi was probably written late after the return of the captives and after the reconstruction of the Temple and the wall of Jerusalem. It is an 'oracle' or an oral prophesy. Basically, the book is a redemptive book for the Jews. It explains why the Jews were still to be redeemed by God -- "Jacob have I loved; Esau have I hated" but only if they straightened up and flew right. The whole concept of sacrificing 'blemished' animals, the withholding of the tithes to the Temple, the ill treatment of widows and orphans -- this had to stop in order for the Chosen to stay the chosen.

Malachi has some serious apocalyptic visions with the 'coming of the Lord' and the destruction of the wicked. But it also foretells a 'messenger', who will prepare the way for the Lord. It is no wonder that this is the last book of the OT for Christians.

One of the more interesting factoids that I learned in my Inter-Faith classes last winter was that the order of the Hebrew scriptures is different when it is Christian Bible vs. a Jewish Tanakh. The Hebrew Bible ends with Chronicles with the book of Malachi inserted into the other 12 minor prophet books somewhere in the middle of the book.
Why? The question was asked at the dinner that night. My guess is that Malachi specifically points to a messenger, one sent from God to proclaim the Day of the Lord.

NT -- Revelation 21:1-27
This is the New Heaven passage that is repeated so often at funerals. The city of Jerusalem, remade in fabulous glory and delight.

Friday, December 28, 2012

December 29

NT -- Revelation 20:1-15
The Book of Life
Scare you or are you confident?
You probably know where I stand. Scared would be way too tame a word. And most of the time, the stuff that makes me crazy are the things I DIDN'T do rather than what I did, although, I have to say, there are plenty of those as well.
One of the things I am working on personally is regret. The other is generosity of spirit. My goal is to minimize the regret and have an open heart towards those in need, whatever their need is.
I am not sure that I think there truly is a 'Book of Life' any more than I perceive a giant dragon but what I do think is that God placed in my heart that still, small voice to push me towards things He would wish me to do and say. This kind of stuff takes practice and that is a big goal of mine for next year.
I hope that my column of 'good stuff' is better than my 'bad stuff' in the Book.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

December 28

NT -- Revelation 19:1-21
A very strange and imagery filled passage.
I have had to break it down into 3 parts:
vs. 1-8, vs 9-16, and vs 17-21

The first set of verses required that I go back to yesterday's readings to figure out what was happening. This was the destruction of Babylon aka Rome with the enormous millstones due to their gross excesses of materialism. With the destruction of Babylon, the 24 elders (the 12 sons of Jacob, the 12 steadfast disciples of Jesus) erupt in a chorus of hallelujahs, shouts of delight and songs of praises. That is what the poems are for. Thrilled would be too tame an adjective for the crowd.

The second set, verses 9-16, are another vision. And angel commanded John to write down what he sees and not to worship the angel but God. What John sees is an incredible horse leading a heavenly army. Gorgeous but immensely powerful and charged with destroying the evil kings, men, horses and their riders who do not follow God.

The Third set, vs 17-21 is the aftermath of that destruction. An angel, standing in the sun, calls out to the vultures and buzzards to come eat the flesh of those killed in the epic battle of above. The beast was killed, along with the false prophet who had proclaimed him. Those two went into the lake of firey brimstone but the rest, who had followed them, had their flesh stripped from their bones by the birds. Stinking, gruesome sight.

Because these three little episodes happen so rapidly, it is hard for my mind to grasp. I needed to break the scripture down into more manageable imagery for me to handle. I hope this was helpful to you as well.

3 more days and we will be done!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

December 27

OT -- Zechariah 10:1-11:17
More allusion from Matthew. Vs. 10-12:
Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord. I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

Thirty pieces of silver! Judas, indeed!.
And that brings the question up, was 30 pieces of silver what people paid ANYONE does a detestable service or were the High Priests and scribes making a point with Judas? This part of the crucifixion story with the price of the betrayal and Judas' hanging only appears in Matthew although Judas is mentioned as the betrayer in Mark and Luke as well.
But still -- 30 pieces of silver. Something to ponder over. Clearly Matthew knew his Zechariah.

NT -- Revelation 18:1-24
The city of Babylon mentioned in these scripture is a pseudonym for Rome. Replace the names and re-read the scripture.

So, what does that tell you about how John feels about Rome? That he considers all the buying, selling, the trading and the merchandising to be one of Rome's greatest flaws? I think so. I think that John was probably an early proponent of 'buy local'. But we also have to remember that all the colonies existed to feed the whims and fancies of Rome. Up to 75% of goods, services, raw materials and foods went to Rome, much to the beggarment of the colonies. Romans NEVER went hungry, as a matter of fact, in their homes, they had rooms just to vomit in so that they could stuff themselves on more. Disgusting, but true. Meanwhile, common folks scrimped and starved.
Go careful here, now. There is so much temptation to extrapolate this forward to our times and while the message is still true, the predictions are not aimed at Americans. They are aimed at Rome.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

December 26

OT -- Zechariah 9:1-17
There are times when in this Bible study I have decided that parts of the OT are not applicable. And I started off reading that way tonight. But then I bump up against something that is so descriptive, so back-story Jesus that I wish I had read it long ago.
Look at verse 9:
Regjoice greatly O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Ever read that story of Jesus entering into Jerusalem? Ever wondered why he sent two of his disciples to get the donkey? Oh, I have heard the whole tale about how kings ride up to Jerusalem on war horses. Chargers of the finest. And this is true. But this part of Jesus' story is lifted straight out of Zechariah. John and Matthew even quote the scripture! This is one of the all 4 gospel stories.

So then I had to stop my cursory reading and start all over again.
Remember that Zechariah was written AFTER the return of the exiles and during the reconstruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. Approximately at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. So, technically, they weren't at war with the Philistines or Damascus or Tyre. But this 'oracle' of Zechariah plots really doom and destruction on all those city states. Which brings the question -- why?
And for that we have to look back at Ezra and Nehemiah to realize that just because all those folks were part of an empire did not stop them from jockeying for position, plotting revenge and taking it out, undercutting and thieving from one another.
The old hatreds do not go away just because some is conquered.

But back to the scripture -- when the king does come into Jerusalem, and the savior, not the 'real' king, look at what all he is doing to do:
peace to the nations
rouse the sons of Zion
The Lord will appear over them
they will triumph over all

But that is not exactly what happened.
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Monday, December 24, 2012

December 25

Merry, Merry Christmas!

7 more days, we will be finished. Although you may be busy in your revelries, stay in the Word!

NT -- Revelation 16:1-21
These 7 plagues closely mirror the plagues that God sent to Egypt.
Plague 1 -- sores
Plague 2 -- dead oceans
Plague 3 -- rivers and streams of blood
Plague 4 -- seared by the sun
Plague 5 -- darkness covering the sun'
Plague 6 -- water drying up
Plague 7 -- lightning, thunder, earthquakes, hail

And still the people cursed God because the plagues were so terrible. The correct response, Grasshopper, is to repent. I have to assume that if they had repented, God would have saved them.
But, same as the Egyptians, while they might give lip service to letting the children of Israel go, true repentance does not happen.

And the place of Armageddon is mentioned -- these are the plains of Meddigo, an actual place in Israel. It is the crossroads of the East/West travels through Palestine and has been a place of eternal conflict.

Much love, grace and peace to each of you.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

December 24

Christmas Eve
I had two terrible dreams last night and both were vivid and disturbing. The first one was so awful that it woke me up and I had to get up. The second happened just before I woke up this morning and when I did, I was absolutely convinced that the dream HAD happened.
Revelation is like that for me. While I know that John was writing 'in code' and in imagery that was immediately recognizable to his readers, it has such a dream-like, fantastic quality that I associate it with bad dreams. I guess if it comes true, it WILL be bad waking dreams for the unsaved.

Proverbs 30:224-28
Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coney (rabbits) are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in rank; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.

I am fascinated by ants. Here are some weird facts I know about them:
They are extremely strong (sorry Solomon). Most can lift several times their own body weight and haul things long distance.
They are in a constant state of war against those who share their physical space. Like human beings, their aim is to enlarge their territory with their genetic markers.
All ants that we come into contact with are female. Males have wings and exist only for fertilizing the queen who is the only one who reproduces. This happens in the air. Once the fertilization takes place, if the males return to the nest, the warriors will pull the wings off and leave the males to starve to death. It's not easy being a male insect.
All ants in a nest are genetically the same.
Ants 'talk' to one another via pheromones -- and they 'smell' these through their antennae.
Ants farm.
Ants understand about cleanliness and disease.

I think, if I could re-choose what to do with my life, I would study insects.

On this most holy of days, I bid you peace.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

December 23

Never having read Zechariah, I was unprepared for the apocalyptic imagery that pervades it. We have those same 7 eyes, 4 horned beasts, lampstands, etc. that permeate Revelation.
We also have the whole concept of the destruction of the earth due to God's wrath.
Day before yesterday was supposed to be the end of the earth. Instead, as Matthew put it, it is now a joke day -- and the movie 2012 -- is a comedy.
And it would be if this week had not been so very grim with the news from home, nationally and abroad.
John and Zechariah were both writing to people whose lives were threatened to their very existence. The life those people led were hard and harsh. Even if you were very wealthy, there was no sparing you from the change in fortunes due to the vagaries of politics.
For Zechariah, his book was written during the reign of Darius, the Persian emperor. True, Cyrus had allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and the emperor had even helped pay to rebuild the Temple. Darius did continue this policy but who knew when that might change? Or another empire (that would be Greece) would take over and then who knew what their policies would be towards their vassals.
The only way to preserve the worship of the Lord was for the return of the king to Jerusalem.
These 'oracles' about the return of the correct and abiding worship of the Lord have harsh consequences to those who do not comply or who 'fall away' from the true worship.

These themes are also echoed in our selection today from Revelation. It is hard to read and understand the whole concept of the 'mark'. It is possible that John meant a physical mark. Slaves in Roman times were often branded so that they could not run away. So were criminals.
Even centurions had brandings though theirs were usually in the range of regiment tattoos rather than what we think of as brands.
We also know that symbols and anagrams were used extensively in the 'mystery' religions that pervaded the Roman Empire. It is possible that many who followed these cults actually had physical marks on their bodies that allowed each other to recognize and trust each other.
Why would John be so against these 'marks'? I am not sure but what I think is probably true is that he wasn't so much against the 'marks' as he was against the beliefs.
The whole book of Revelation is one long discourse about NOW. NOW is the time for repentance because the end is at hand. And if you don't believe, the consequences are AWFUL.
How much easier it would be to merely go along with the cultural worships of the day. How much easier it would be to offer sacrifices at the local shrine, kowtow to the emperor worship, do your civic duty by just going along.
Think about the courage it took to stay the course! The Romans were getting ready to toss people into the arenas for faith! They had already burnt them on sticks for it!

Fast forward to 2012, almost 2013 in America. Oh, I hear all the stuff about America not being friendly to Christians but I have news for you, the Federal Reserve is CLOSED on Christmas day. Christmas is a FEDERAL holiday. I personally think that most people are unfriendly to those who insist that THEIR religion is the ONLY religion. And I hate to say it, but there are plenty of Christians who feel that way.
So, does John's Revelation speak to us? When the Mayan calendar said that the world was ending, did we have loads of people repenting and changing their ways?
Or do most folks, myself included, think that the world is NEVER going to end? Aren't we just like teenagers in that regard? Oh, this will NEVER happen to me?

There must have been tons of folks in Jerusalem who thought Zechariah was a nut job. Didn't they get the emperor!!! to pay for their new Temple? Things were going smashingly. Okay, so they weren't totally in charge of their destiny but hey, they had reasonable protection and things were happening.
And I know that people all through the ages have thought John was brain-damaged. Many horned beasts and all.
Or took him literally and have decided that this means such and such and the world is just about over. If you think I am exaggerating, let me tell you, there is a billboard that I pass every week on my way to my Marietta market on I-75 that says "Look what the US will be doing to Egypt" Watchman.com. I have to tell you, that is one scary website!
You cannot go downtown with out the street preachers' placards ringing out -- THE END IS NEAR.

Maybe so. But just in case it isn't, I will be ordering my spring garden seeds next week, planning out my flower beds, my vacation schedule, and Cole's college visits.

Grace, peace and a nighttime free of worry.


Thursday, December 20, 2012

December 21

NT -- Revelation 12:1-13:1a
I am very literal minded. It is hard for me to understand and decipher lots of poetry and I, being the mother of a high schooler, am so over metaphors, similes, appositives and other assorted literary terms.
So, when I read something like this section of Revelation that is nattering on and on about a dragon, I think, well, a dragon. Pictures of very bad art in Chinese restaurants.
Except that isn't what is meant here (which is why I sort of have my grump on). The dragon is Satan -- see vs. 9 The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan who leads the whole world astray.

so, back I go, to re-read the section again, this time inserting Satan in place of the dragon.

vs. 3 "Then another sign appeared in heaven; an enormous red Satan (think really bad Halloween costume). He stood in front of the pregnant woman who was about to give birth, so that he (Satan) could kill her child the moment it was born."

Now, why would Satan want to kill Jesus right as he was born? Well, if you think about it that way, there are 7 billion reasons running around this earth this minute as to why Satan would kill Jesus as at birth.
I guess my question would be for God. Why would he even allow Satan the opportunity to kill Jesus? Why, when there was a war in heaven between Satan and Michael (the arch-angel), wasn't Satan killed instead of throwing him down to earth?
As if we earthlings could combat him better than an angel?


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

December 20

NT -- Revelation 11:1-19
We are in the middle of the Woes. Ugly things are happening in this time.
God will call forth 2 prophets who will call down God's wrath. They will be killed and lay dead in the streets for 3.5 days. Then they will resurrect and be taken up to heaven and those below will see a glimpse of heaven.
I am assuming that these are a continuation of the plea of God to repent and be saved. Otherwise, why wouldn't he just obliterate the populace?

Psalm 139
A favorite psalm to be read at baptisms and funerals. The bookends of life, a Baptist preacher at one of my mother's relatives' funerals said. I think that is what is meant by the whole 'hemming in' part in vs. 5. It isn't meant to constrain us, it is meant to protect us, especially, I think, from ourselves.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

December 19

NT -- Revelation 10:1-11
This whole little episode of the man-killing locusts (from yesterday), the 4 angels loosed from the Euphrates (you remember in Genesis when Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden angels were placed at the entrance to guard against), and the plagues, death and destruction is a setup for the end of the earth as we know it. Since the non-believers are not going to be among us, God has to have some way to get rid of them, all the while giving them a chance to repent. I assume, maybe incorrectly since the text does not say, that some of them did. But the ones that continue with their evil ways will not make it and the end is gruesome.
Today's scripture has a super special angel coming down with a little scroll. This scroll is inspiring John to speak against the evil ones in his world, and the Lord knows that it will end badly for John (hence the sour stomach).

Reading Revelation this way in little bitty chunks has made me ponder just how I feel about non-believers.
It would be so much easier for me if the non-believers in my life were also evil but since they aren't, it is so very much more complicated for me. Perhaps for you, this question is settled. I know that it is for some and they believe that if you DON'T believe, you won't be saved. I, on the other hand, have no idea. Nor do I think I am especially called to yap constantly about giving yourself to Jesus so that you won't suffer the fate of the non-believers in Revelation. Basically, I have no idea what on earth this set of scripture is supposed to mean for me, much less those who don't believe. And I do think the whole cop-out of 'it is not up to me' is just that.

I have been really sad today about all the upset over the little children who have died. All over my FaceBook and in forwarded emails, it is everywhere. Don wants to talk about my stance on assault weapons (I have none). I just don't hardly know where to put all my emotions.
And for me, that is why this section of Revelation is unsettling. I just don't know HOW to feel about non-believers. I really don't. And I don't want them to die any more than I want sweet little children and steadfast teachers to die.
And the fact that this is all mixed up with Christmas, with exams, with Matthew home from school is even worse. I should be happy. I should be making cookies, making fun plans, doing wonderful things for those in need and instead, what I feel is sad.
There is no joy in this girl. And for that, I am even sadder.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

December 17

Here is a beautiful piece of writing and I hope, sermon, in response to Friday's unspeakable tragedy.
I was especially comforted by the the final three quotes, which includes one from Mr. Rogers, one of my personal heroes.


OT -- Nahum
Just when you think you know a little about the Bible, something HUGE slaps you upside the head.
For years, I had assumed that Jonah was the only prophet to Assyria. Wrong.
Nahum opens with 'an oracle concerning Nineveh (the capital city of Assyria)'.
The entire book is in today's scripture and it is a brutal one. No wonder Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. Those dudes were BAD. And according to Nahum, God is going to destroy Nineveh which eventually came true but not before Israel was obliterated and all of her people were scattered to the winds.

I had also heard that Jonah is the only book of the Bible to end with a question. Also not true. So does Nahum.
So much for my standing with Bible trivia.

Proverbs 30:7-9
"Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches but only my daily bread."
My friend Susan just told me that a man from her hometown won a share in the massive PowerBall lottery recently. She knows him and says he and his wife are 'good people'. With 75 million, they won't be for long.
It is the rare quick rich who not only keeps the money but does good and remains 'good people'. It is just too hard with the tempter(s) hanging around.

But it is also hard to be 'good people' when you are scratching out a poverty existence.
I am with the proverbist with a slight twist -- I would like my daily bread with my health and my mind.

NT-- Revelation 8:1-13
Keep in mind that what is being opened is God's 'Will' for creation. Clearly, we have been judged and found wanting. The first three of seven angels rain destruction down on the earth. I hate to give away part of the story but numbers 5 and six are bad for the earth as well.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

December 16

NT -- Revelation 7:1-17
When I was born until I was 7 years old, we went to a Baptist church. My mother was a Baptist. My dad grew up attending a Pentecostal church but he never joined either that church or the Baptist church.
The church we started going to when we moved to the north side of town (the closest to our house, and I kid you not, we were almost always late) was Presbyterian but Sunday School was during church. We talked about covenant a lot and I had been in Sunday School for probably a year before I realized that Yahweh and God were the same being. We just didn't talk about that in the Baptist church.
When I was in the 5th grade, my teacher threw me out of Sunday School for talking about heretical ideas. I had seen the movie Chariots of the Gods and then read the book. It explains the Bible as a series of alien visitations and I have to say, having read the Bible this year, I am still not convinced that Erich von Daniken was wrong. All I wanted to do was talk about the book but my teacher was seriously incensed.
I never went back.
Fast forward to my senior year in high school and we were going to have adult Sunday School discussing Revelation. Mother and I went and it was fabulous. But at some point, one of the much older people bring up the 144,000 'sealed' people. Only in their version it was 'saved'. Only 144,000. Classic Presbyterian doctrine I was told. I simply couldn't believe it. A the time, we were just shy of 6 BILLION people, and only 144,000 were going to heaven? What kind of chance did rotten me have?
Here it is, 33 years later and that is finally refuted.
Revelation, if you want to be literal about it, says that 144,000 JEWS were 'sealed', i.e. claimed by God. The rest of us, the 'multitude' have no number. Just a 'great multitude'.
Numbers, just like colors, have great significance in Revelation -- 24 elders, 12 from Jacob, 12 disciples, red riders, 7 horns, etc. If we lived in 1st century or even 2nd century AD, we would know IMMEDIATELY what these symbols mean.
Just like if I told you I was going to listen to a rap artist right after I finish this blog post, you wouldn't think it was an artist that bangs on things, except vocally.
For us, it is enough to know that while Presbyterians do believe in predestination, the number, at least according to Revelation, is not preordained.
And just in case you think it is crazy of me to have arguments with my dead Sunday School teacher or 33 years ago Revelation class, let me just tell you about a conversation Cole and I had at dinner.
Don was commenting on how few days I had left of this blog and praising me. This is a major accomplishment in my life, let me tell you.
I replied that I might be doing the Torah study which studies a page of Torah a day. Takes 7 years and a day.
Why? Cole asked. Well, you study the first 5 books of the Bible and also the commentary. And the commentary is the arguments of the sage rabbis -- some of whom died 2500 years ago, some who are still living.
Cole laughed. Sounds like a perfect group for you, Mom.

******************
I did want to say something about the school shootings in Connecticut, especially since we are studying Revelations and this feels very much like a Revelationy kind of thing.
Mental illness is an awful thing. It masquerades as so many physical ailments. It destroys families, marriages, finances. The guilt on all sides is enormous.
But it is not covered by insurance, and nobody wants to admit they have it or that someone near and dear to them has it. It's our little secret. Until it isn't.
I have lived part of my life in that shadow world and expend great amounts of energy keeping myself out. I pray constantly for the others in my family who carry that burden.
The letters of John say love is the answer. To all the problems and all the questions.
Somehow, in this place and time, that doesn't seem enough.

Friday, December 14, 2012

December 15

16 days to go.

NT -- Revelation 6:1-17
The scroll is the God's last will and testament of creation.
With each seal broken, a different rider and horse are unleashed on his creation.
Seal #1: the rider is crowned king and is bent on conquest
Seal #2 the rider is given a sword and has the power to take peace
Seal # 3 The rider is given scales to weigh daily wage
Seal #4 the rider is given the power to kill 1/4 of the earth by sword, famine and plague.
Seal #5 brings the 'good' dead to the surface wanting to know 'how long?'
Seal #6 is a the monstrous earthquake that will topple most of the earth

And we wait for several days to open seal #7.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

December 14

OT - Jonah

One year, when I was studying the OT in an in depth Bible study, I attempted for the High Holy Days -- Rosh Hashannah to Yom Kippur -- to keep kosher and to keep to the Jewish prayers. I had bumped into a rabbi who was willing to 'loan' me a prayer book -- okay, he told me that no one loans a prayer book, it is given but in my defense I fully expected to give it back -- and I tried. I also went to synagogue on both of the days. Whoa.
If you get grumpy when your minister runs on past 12 o'clock, best stay away from the synagogue on the High days. 3 hours was the 'abbreviated' service for families with children. I had none but buddy, I pretended. It is hard for this ADD girl to sit that long in panty hose and high heels.
At some point, they called all the children up to the front like we do for our time with the children and had them help tell the story of Jonah and the whale. Only, they didn't stop like Christian children do with the vomit scene. No, they went the whole way and apparently, it was a great honor to say the final line of the skit "Should I not be concerned about that great city?" I say it was an honor because as I remember it, no less than 4 or 5 young boys each said the line.
I have often pondered that whole episode in my spiritual life and on Yom Kippur this year, I happened to check what the haftorah (the small portion of scripture) was. Imagine my shock when I discovered it was Jonah. Again. So, I started poking. Jonah, the entire book of Jonah is ALWAYS the haftorah scripture for Yom Kippur.
Click here to read a possible reason why. Then go back and read Jonah with fresh, new eyes. I know I did.

NT -- Revelation 5:1-14
Important Roman documents like wills and transfer of property were sealed with 7 seals. Basically, they were written a bit at a time, rolled forwarded, sealed, then written some more with a seal sealing that portion. This was to prevent someone from reading the document that was not authorized.
In our scripture today, the Lamb is the only one who was worthy to open the scroll. Jesus, of course, the Paschal Lamb, the one who was sacrificed for our sins is the only one to worthy to open such a sacred document.
Just as there would be a witness to reading a will, the creatures of heaven are present when the Lamb aka Jesus unrolls the scroll given to him by God to read the fate of creation.

I find it terrible interesting that we have the Day of Atonement scripture bumping up against our personal Atonement - the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we lean into the forgiveness that stands ready for each of us.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

December 13

I am sorry to say but my email was spammed. If you received an email from me with no subject or a subjectZ that said re: , please do not open it. It is a cookie-grabbing spam virus. If you did open it, you need to immediately change your email password. These viruses grab your contacts and send out these spam email from your computer.

This is a very un-Christian thing to say or write but I personally feel that people who create viruses, mal-ware, spyware, etc. are the scum of the earth.

NT - Revelation 4:1-11
This little section of scripture is one representation of the throne room of heaven. God is seated on the throne and is surrounded by the 24 other thrones -- my commentaries say these are the 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 disciples of Jesus minus Judas and adding the one they elected to replace him in the Upper Room after Jesus' death -- Matthias. (Acts 1).
The creatures are cherubim and give credence to the idea that angels do not look like babies in long white nightgowns. Otherwise, why would the first words out of their mouths be 'Be not afraid'?

In the Presbyterian church, we sing Holy, Holy, Holy all the time. This is the scripture that it is taken from. There, aren't you glad Revelation was in the Bible? Otherwise we would miss out on one of the great hymns of all time.



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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

December 11

OT -- Amos 7:1-9:15
Oh, I love this part of Amos. I could certainly understand why he says what he does.

God shows Amos the images of locusts and fire devouring the landscape and Amos pleads for the people. God relents. Amos feels almost giddy with relief and then almost immediately bumps into a 'priest' who clearly despises Amos. Get out! he cries. You are prophesying against the king!
At this point, Amos must have gone into a fury because he starts spouting doom and destruction but who could blame him at this point?
But even Amos blows out eventually and give hope.
"I will plant Israel in their own land, never to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord God.

NT -- Revelation 3:7-22
Today's scripture wraps up the letters to the seven churches. Of them all, Philadelphia was the best, I think. They have 'little strength' but have soldiered on.
Laodicea, however, is only lukewarm. Better to be hot or cold than lukewarm. Be earnest! Repent!

Tomorrow we start with the visions.

Monday, December 10, 2012

December 11

OT -- Amos 4:1-6:14
Even then, O Lord, women were called 'cows' in an unkind way.

The basic rebuke of Amos for Uzziah is that he oppresses the poor and does not let them have their day in court.
vs. 15 Hate evil, love good;
maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy
on the remnant of Joseph.

and the ever famous vs. 21-24
I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offering,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Martin Luther King Jr may have used this a bizillion times in speeches but Amos said it first.


NT -- Revelation 2:18-3:6
In today's scripture, John writes to Thyatira and Sardis.
To Thyatira, their big problem is a woman who apparently is sexually immoral and into the whole eating the food of idols thing. She apparently holds a lot of sway in the congregation and has other folk following her. Her name, by the way, is not Jezebel. Just like yesterday's hyperbole in Amos with the 3 sins, not for 4, calling a woman Jezebel is supposed to invoke Ahab's horrible, nasty wife of 2 Kings. Her end was gross -- she was pushed out a window and dogs licked up her blood from the pavement. John knows that his use of this name will shock some people but he is clearly displeased with her teachings of 'free love'.

In Sardis, they are not 'on fire for the Lord'. He wants them to 'wake up' and get going. I think this may be what most of the churches I belong to fall into. Probably me as well....

Peace and Hope to each of you.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

December 10

OT -- Amos 1:1-3:15
Amos prophesied in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah and Jeroboam, king of Israel. This places him between 767 BCE and 747 BCE.
At this point, the kingdoms are still relatively intact and although threatened, not subject to another empire. It is disconcerting to me to read these prophets out of time context, although I realize that this is just one of my many hangups. If you want to read the historical accounts of Uzziah, they are in 2 Kings 15:1-7. Kings lists him as Azariah while 2 Chronicles 26 calls him Uzziah. It is okay to be confused.
Uzziah was a pretty good king at first. He reinforced the walls of Jerusalem, apparently maintained a good, decent fighting force. But his downfall, like mine, was pride. He wanted to be the one to burn the incense rather than the priests. He got leprosy and had to live apart.
This is the king Amos is prophesying to.

The repetitive phrase in Amos is For three sins... even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. My Bible commentary says this is meant to invoke the story of Abraham, Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember the story -- Abraham negotiates with the Lord to save the city if he (Abraham) finds 100, 50, 10, 1 good man?
My Cole, who is studying for his exams that start on Friday, says this is hyperbole -- a literary term that means exaggeration, meant to evoke strong feelings and is often a repetive device. Clearly is in Amos.

NT -- Revelation 2:1-17

Here is a map of the 7 churches of Revelation:


In today's scripture, John is writing in particular to Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum.
To Ephesus, he commends them for their good deeds and hard work but says they have slipped and fallen.
To Smyrna, John tells them that he knows they are being persecuted and that they are suffering. He asks them to be faithful, even if they die for it.
Pergamum gets a strong rebuke. They are eating foods sacrificed to idols and following teachings of the Nicolaitans.
Here is a great link to that heretical teaching.


Saturday, December 8, 2012

December 9

NT -- Revelation 1:1-20
And so we begin the last book of the New Testament. This is the Revelation according to John. Not John the Baptist and probably not John the Apostle. (Too many Johns in the NT).
Having taught Revelation and studied it numerous times, it never ceases to amaze me how terrified people are of the book.
Here are some common complaints:
I don't understand all the beasts.
I don't like being scared.
I don't want to think of the end times.
I don't like all the numbers stuff. I don't believe in all the numbers stuff.
I think John was high when he wrote this. (this may or may not be true. Psilocybin mushrooms did grow on the Island of Patmos.)
I don't want to go to a church that discusses hellfire and brimstone and there is a lot of that in Revelation.
or the most common of all:
I have no idea what John is talking about.

Revelation is so scary that when Presbyterian Women put on this study at Mt Vernon Presbyterian, we offered an alternative to it. And loads of people took us up on it!
They missed out on a fascinating, informative study, however. I, of course, being not scared of much in the Bible, believing if it is that scary then I just won't believe it, thoroughly enjoyed it and my teachers.

So, here is my suggestion if you find yourself in one of the above comments:
Read my commentary, then go read the scripture, then come back and read my commentary again.
You may not agree with me. But that is okay.

And as for the one that raises the most hackles in Presbyterians -- the hellfire and brimstone -- actually, there is a lot of that in Matthew. And we keep reading him, now don't we.

The scripture for today is the opening of a letter that was sent to 7 churches in Asia Minor who had Christian churches established to some degree or another and that John had close ties with. John is no longer able to visit these churches as he has been 'suffering for the Word of the Lord Jesus on the island of Patmos which is basically a rock in the middle of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece.
John was worshiping on the Lord's Day (Sunday) and he had a vision. He sees 7 golden lamp stands (the 7 churches) and a man (Jesus). We know that he is Jesus because he immediately starts quoting the prophets especially Isaiah (chapter 44 and 48 identify God as the 'first and the last', the 'beginning and the end'.) This is just John's way of establishing that Jesus was God and had the power and mighty of God.
And then our scripture for today ends. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

OT -- The book of Joel.
A very minor prophet indeed since it is one day long. But it is filled with imagery of an agricultural disaster which war almost always is.
It is hard not to bring up Scarlett O'Hara's turnip eating scene when you read Joel since she wasn't going to be hungry again and surely, when God relented, he wouldn't allow his people to be hungry again. God, himself, would provide the grain and the wine offering.




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Grace, peace and serenity to each of you as we hurtle towards the end of this study.

Friday, December 7, 2012

December 8

OT-- Hosea 10:1-14:9

Check out this video teaching of the Book of Hosea.



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Maybe this is because I despise poetry so much but this was so much better than what I have been reading.

Psalm 127
Also known as the children praise psalm. Clearly whoever wrote it was not in the middle of the teenage years with their kids. But beautiful none the less.

1. A song of ascents about Solomon. If the Lord will not build a house, its builders have toiled at it in vain; if the Lord will not guard a city, [its] watcher keeps his vigil in vain. א. שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לִשְׁלֹמֹה אִם יְהֹוָה | לֹא יִבְנֶה בַיִת שָׁוְא | עָמְלוּ בוֹנָיו בּוֹ אִם יְהֹוָה לֹא יִשְׁמָר עִיר שָׁוְא | שָׁקַד שׁוֹמֵר:
A song of ascents about Solomon: This song David recited about his son, Solomon, for he saw through the holy spirit that he [Solomon] was destined to build the Temple, and on that very day, Solomon would marry Pharaoh’s daughter, and concerning this was said (Jer. 32:31): “For this city has aroused My anger and My wrath since the day they built it.” Therefore, he recited this song. My son, why should you build a house and turn away from following the Omnipresent? Since He does not desire it, its workers have toiled at it in vain.
[its] watcher keeps his vigil in vain: The watchman watches it in vain.
2. It is futile for you who arise early, who sit late, who eat the bread of toil, so will the Lord give to one who banishes sleep from himself. ב. שָׁוְא לָכֶם | מַשְׁכִּימֵי קוּם מְאַחֲרֵי שֶׁבֶת אֹכְלֵי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים כֵּן יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ שֵׁנָא:
It is futile for you: The craftsmen, who rise early and stay late at their work and sustain themselves with toil and labor, with bread of toil, [i.e.,] of the toil of work.
so will the Lord give: The Holy One, blessed be He, [will give] sustenance to him who banishes his sleep from his eyes in order to engage in the Torah.
to one who banishes sleep: Heb. לידידו שנא. to one who banishes (מנדד) sleep from his eyes.
3. Behold, the heritage of the Lord is sons, the reward is the fruit of the innards. ג. הִנֵּה נַחֲלַת יְהֹוָה בָּנִים שָֹכָר פְּרִי הַבָּטֶן:
Behold, the heritage of the Lord: for that man [who banishes sleep from his eyes].
sons: These are the disciples whom he sets up, who are to him like sons.
the reward is the fruit of the innards: The reward is the fruit of the Torah that is in his heart as it is said (Prov. 22:18): “For it is pleasant that you guard them in your innards.”
4. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of one's youth. ד. כְּחִצִּים בְּיַד גִּבּוֹר כֵּן בְּנֵי הַנְּעוּרִים:
Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man: with which to battle his enemies.
so are the sons of one’s youth: The disciples that a man sets up in his youth.
5. Praiseworthy is the man who has filled his quiver with them; they will not be ashamed when they talk to the enemies in the gate. ה. אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אֶת אַשְׁפָּתוֹ מֵהֶם לֹא יֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי יְדַבְּרוּ אֶת אוֹיְבִים בַּשָּׁעַר:
Praiseworthy is the man who has filled his quiver: with those arrows. אשפה is the arrowcase, called cuyvre in Old French.
they will not be ashamed when they talk to the enemies in the gate: Torah scholars who defeat one another in halachah and appear as enemies to one another (addendum).

Thursday, December 6, 2012

December 7

NT -- 3 John 3:1-14
Dear friends, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God.

I do so love the philosophy of John. Loyalty. Love. Good Behavior.
Of course, sometimes what I think is good behavior turns out not to be but still, we should strive to be good, right?
I think he and Paul probably quarreled a lot over their various philosophies. Acts says nothing about those quarrels but I can imagine them.
Paul, with his wordy, appositive phrases and run on sentences. John with his clear vision of just loving, doing good, taking care of one another in words and phrases that everyone can understand and take hold of. Unfortunately for me, Paul won out in the 'best apostle' race.

Proverbs 29:12-14
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.
What do you think this means?
Does it mean that God gives gifts to everyone -- good and bad?
Or does it mean that the poor man can see he is oppressed and the oppressor can see that he is behaving badly?
I feel so often with these proverbs that I am missing a key component of the logic. I do not see how the two relate.

3 weeks, 3 days until the end. Stay focused.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

December 6

NT -- 2 John
The whole of this book is included in today's scripture. And can I just say, I have absolutely no memory of having ever read or studied this scripture! I realize that I have written some version of this statement multiple times over the course of this year but really, I actually considered myself fairly well versed in Bible before I started this trek. I now realize just how incredibly little I had read much less studied or heard taught or preached.

the letter in English opens with: To the chosen lady and her children. In Greek, that all translates as Kyria. Occasionally this is used in reference to church. And it may well be here. But I prefer a different take. What if there really was a true lady of the church whom John had befriended on one of his journeys and he had heard some not so nice news about what they were believing (that Jesus wasn't really a man in the flesh)and had taken pen to write her a brief, lovely little note to remind her?
That sounds so much nicer than -- to a church. Also, I love that whole little part at the end, 'I have much to write you but I do not want to use paper and ink.' Or in today's parlance -- email.
Keep the faith, dear Kyria.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

December 5

OT -- Hosea 1:1
I personally think it is hideous to name some poor child the names that God told Hosea to name his kids. All I can think of is Johnny Cash's A boy named Sue.



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I can already tell I am going to have problems with Hosea.

NT -- 1 John 5:1-21
So many answers to so many questions here in the letters of John!

Look at vs.n 16-17
If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

Well, now, I am glad we are not supposed to chastise a fellow believer when they are doing wrong. And I am also glad that there really is, as I have always suspected, a hierarchy of sin.

Monday, December 3, 2012

December 4

OT -- Daniel 11:36-12:13
These passages are about Antiochus Ephiphanes IV and were specifically written to help the faithful Jews hold fast in the war of the Maccabees.
I really enjoyed reading these apocalyptic passages but I must say, I must be 10 years old at heart because I prefer my Daniel to be the hero.
But Daniel has been a lovely interlude. I am afraid we are back to the grind of the prophets after today.

NT -- 1 John 4:1-21
Aren't these beautiful verses!
Vs. 7-8
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God because God is love.
This is my answer to all the people who are so caught up in worrying about Jews, Muslims,Hindus, etc. If they love, they are children of God and He loves them.
I don't understand it and I don't have all the answers but that one is as much as I need.
Now, my job is to go out into the world and love.

Grace and Peace to each of you.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

December 3

NT -- 1 John 3:7-24
vs: 18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

My tree cutter is a man I have known for 15 years. We started out with 27 monstrous pine trees on our property and Gary has cut the vast majority down. We had a few tree cutters before him but once he and his crew did one tree, I was hooked. They are clean, tidy, work hard, show up on time and leave the place neater than it was when they got here. We now have NO pine trees so I guess I will only be recommending Gary out instead of seeing him 1-2 times a year.
Gary, who is only slightly older than me, always calls me 'young lady'. I have to tell you, I am not young. Not old either but well past middle aged. Okay, I am 49 if you really must know.
With some men, 'young lady' might have been flirtatious. And maybe it was in the beginning but I grew up on a construction site and stomp all flirts into the ground. Now, when he uses it, he says it to either a)give me the bad news -- pine beetles in the tree on my neighbor's property that is hanging over my house or b)you really want to take care of this or that problem before it actually becomes a problem. It isn't a sale tactic, it is just a person who has seen a whole lot more problems with trees, roofs, and gutters than I have.

John is sort of like that with the people he is writing to. His dear children is not a put down. It is a love expression. He includes himself in the statement 'let us'. He knows that if you don't do it (and probably knows this from experience on his disciple path)you will just get out of line with God and have to be brought back. Deal with the problems early -- take the tree down now or deal with the problems later -- take the tree off the house.

One of my fellow bloggers took this same passage on a different path. I thought it interesting enough at the time she wrote it to look all the way forward to today to make note of it.

Click here to read Nancy's Noodle

Proverbs 29:1
A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed -- without remedy.

Two things about this proverb struck me today. #1 -- I have a stiff neck -- why, I am not sure but for the last couple of days I have woken up with one. It is a serious pain in the you-know-what not to mention the real pain since I suddenly turn and then the world is on fire. I am thinking about acupuncture.
#2 the many rebukes -- I have to admit, I get rebuked a lot. Not a little. A LOT. Which has led me to believe that I really, really am not very good. And it is when I get rebuked for something that I *thought* I had done well that hurts the most.
And I don't think I handle rebukes very well. I don't think it changes my behavior -- as a matter of fact, sometimes it makes my behavior quite bad.
And that tag line on the proverb -- without remedy. Dang. That scares me.

What about you? Are you as mistake prone as me? And how do you handle the rebukes?