After writing my last post on the KinderGarden of Eden, and how it is that most Christians have an immature understanding of what the beginnings in Genesis is all about, I also think the same can be said of what most believe about death of Jesus on the cross, starting with the Garden of Gethsemane. Thus I hope to share some thoughts to challenge those still with a Kindergarten mentality.
Trust me when I say that I am not casting judgment on any reader of this post! In my last post I said I was caught up in the same childish understanding, and it is only by the revelation of the Spirit of God that allows anyone to see any Truth at all, and it is by His Grace and His choosing! If you find yourself sensing such an interest in learning more of Him, then follow Him where He leads, even if it seems like you are alone; because you are not alone. Trust Him to correct you.
In my last post, I said that if we got it wrong in Genesis, it would mess up our whole theology, and I believe that to be true. If we don't know what the plan and purpose of God is, then how do we know if His plan is in effect or not? If we believe that Jesus is an afterthought to save some of humanity, then it is clear that our view of God is not clear. It is plain to see that we do not see the Truth plainly! (Forgive my play on words).
I have even heard it told that when God sees sin, He is so angry that He would take all His wrath and anger out on man, were it not for Jesus to step in between, and show the Father the nail prints in His hands and feet.... then God is appeased by that, and calms back down! Good Grief!!
If you have come out of the KinderGarden of Eden, into some mature understanding, then you will know that Jesus was always plan A. God's purpose is the New Creation Man, and that plan is for ALL of His Creation, not just a select few!
In John 1:29 it says: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" It does not say who takes away the sin for some people, or who takes away the sin of believers, it says who takes away the sin of the world!
So, let me tell you what I think the biggest hurdle to understanding the extent of what was accomplished on the cross for all creation. That is that religion teaches there is a limited time offer to the love of God! That time limit lasts only as long as your breath in these mortal bodies! That is it! People quote John 3:16, and stop there. God so loved the world. But if you asked those same people what happens if you don't believe the same as they do, well God's love must come to an end when your life ends, because there is no hope for you!! Really?? Is that what we believe??
Okay, so I have been wanting to get this off my chest in one of these posts, so I will say it here. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you are probably familiar with the verse "It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement." Do you know what the next verse is that comes after that? Ask anyone who quotes that verse to you what the next verse is, and I can almost guarantee they do not know. Did you know that if you read it in context it means completely the opposite of what they think it means?! Lets look it up.
Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" and now the next few words... "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for
him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation." Do you see that?! SO CHRIST!! It is all Him not you! Now, don't get all worried about that word "many" used here, it is the same many that have sinned. You have read, the wages of sin is death, and this verse tells you that Jesus died your death. He paid your wages for sin! Oh, and He took your judgement too!!
Just as you had no part in Adam bringing the world into sin, so also you had no part in Jesus freeing the world from sin! Read what Paul says in Corinth. 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The same all that die in Adam are the same all that are made alive in Christ!
Look what it says in Romans 5:18,19 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." The same "all" and the same"many" applies here too!
Once you begin to see this truth, then you will be amazed as to how many verses support this, what you never saw before! The Bible is full of them!! Grace and Mercy and Love and a perfect plan of Redemption! What about your loved ones that died without believing? Let me assure you, that God's love does not end when their life or your life ends! God is responsible for your birth, and your death, and every moment in between, and before and after! God reconciles ALL creation unto Himself!! Isn't THAT Good News??
What about the Muslim? God reconciles All creation unto Himself! What about the uncivilized natives? God reconciles All creation unto Himself! What about Hitler? God reconciles All creation unto Himself! If God cannot or does not reconcile even one person He has created, He is not God!
If God failed in the Garden of Eden, He also failed in the Garden of Gethsemane! No wonder the world has such a poor view of the Christian God, because Christians have presented such a poor view of God to the world! It is time to mature, and grow beyond a Kindergarten mentality of Eden, and to mature and grow beyond The KinderGarden of Gethsemane!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The KinderGarden of Eden
As I was listening to a talk radio station today, there was a guest who had written a political book called "The KinderGarden of Eden" The title of which struck me rather funny, and I immediately began to think of the Garden of Eden from Scripture of course, and then I thought that same title would make an interesting title for a post, so here we are.
Kindergarden brings to mind something of a very basic level of learning. It is the first step in our education process, learning the very fundamentals from which most every thing we will learn after that comes from. The idea that kindergarden, and Eden are put together in this title brings to mind the thought that it describes those Christians that have the most basic fundamental understanding of the beginnings of Genesis. And while we would consider it very strange to see an adult sitting in a kindergarden class room, we think nothing of those who have been Christians for many many years with the same kindergarden mentality about what the story of the Garden of Eden is really all about!
I am convinced that if we get it wrong with what Genesis, and the Garden of Eden is all about, then we will have an almost impossible time with getting any other part of our theology right until we go beyond such a kindergarten mentality.
If you are like me and most Christians, you would have been taught that God created Adam in a garden out of the dust of the ground, and then He took a rib from his side, and made Eve. Then the two of them romped about naked in the garden until Eve was tempted by a talking snake, to eat an apple from a tree that God told them not to eat, and then Eve gave it for Adam to eat as well. God found out, and was very mad, and kicked them out of the garden, and made them toil and sweat in the wilderness. And now we have to live a hard life and risk the possibility of going to hell as punishment because of it; unless we believe in Jesus and then we can go to heaven when we die. Sound familiar?
So then, lets get this straight. God puts a tree in the middle of the Garden, and tells Adam not to eat from that tree, or there are fatal consequences, in order to test Adam's love for God right? Supposedly God gave Adam a "free will" to choose to obey. But, since God is all knowing, then He must have know that Adam would disobey before He created him of course. Since that is true, then what kind of God is it who would do such a thing? He builds a perfect Garden Paradise, He puts man in it to enjoy, then He puts a deadly toxic tree right in the middle, and makes sure that it is desirous; like chocolate cake to a weight watchers client. Then He tells the man not to eat it, knowing full well that he is going to eat it anyway, all to "test" his love and then we blame Adam? How do you think you would fair with such a test?
Would you do such a thing to your children? Put them in a room filled with toys to play with, but then put the most tempting toy right in front of them; which you have poisioned; and then tell them not to play with that toy; and then walk out of the room to see if they would obey you out of love? Of course not! You would do everything you could to protect them with your life! Yet, we accuse God of such a heinous act! Not only that, but that He knew the end result before He began, and did it anyway! Is this making you feel all lovey and worshipful of God yet?
No wonder we have such a screwed up theology about God! I did not realize how screwed up it was until a number of years ago, I heard a sermon about the plan and purpose of God, that completely changed my whole Christian understanding and walk! And believe me when I tell you, that when your understanding is changed, your walk will change right along with it! It has to change since we act according to what we believe, not what we say.
There is so much truth to uncover in just the first few chapters of Genesis it is impossible to do any indepth study in a blog post, so I encourage you to question the things you were told with a kindergarten mentality about what really was going on between God and man in the Garden of Eden. Consider the possiblity that God really does have a plan, and that such a plan was not thwarted whatsoever in the Garden, but rather carried out perfectly in every detail!
I covered some of these points in earlier posts, but let me start the ball rolling with a couple of points here. I believe that when God said, "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness" that the man He was talking about was NOT Adam! He was talking about the New Creation Man! You see, the whole story in the Garden is not a patching up of mistakes, using the death of Jesus as plan B. The fact is that Adam had to fall. God set him up to fall. and when it was done, there are a couple verses that show the plan is in motion. Gen 3:22 "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:" Well, isn't that what God wanted for man to become made in His image and likeness? Well, this was only step one in the process. Don't worry, God knows what He is doing, and He has everything under control. As a matter of fact He goes on to promise this will all work out when he says "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." Gen.6:3 The strife will end, and creation shall be restored!
In fact, He does not lose even one of His creation as we find out more details in the New Testament! The death of Jesus ends the Adamic race, and begins a whole New Creation of beings! We are all Spiritual beings on this human journey! (say, what a neat title for a blog:-)) The fact is that each one of us is at a different point in this journey, with a specific detailed plan designed by our creator Himself, to bring us to a place where these momentary troubles will not be worthy to compare with the Glory that shall be revealed in us!
We are training for reigning, and there is much more to learn. Lets start with a better understanding of God's purpose, and not falsely accuse Him of failure. He did not fail, it is us who failed to grow up and graduate from The KinderGarden of Eden
Kindergarden brings to mind something of a very basic level of learning. It is the first step in our education process, learning the very fundamentals from which most every thing we will learn after that comes from. The idea that kindergarden, and Eden are put together in this title brings to mind the thought that it describes those Christians that have the most basic fundamental understanding of the beginnings of Genesis. And while we would consider it very strange to see an adult sitting in a kindergarden class room, we think nothing of those who have been Christians for many many years with the same kindergarden mentality about what the story of the Garden of Eden is really all about!
I am convinced that if we get it wrong with what Genesis, and the Garden of Eden is all about, then we will have an almost impossible time with getting any other part of our theology right until we go beyond such a kindergarten mentality.
If you are like me and most Christians, you would have been taught that God created Adam in a garden out of the dust of the ground, and then He took a rib from his side, and made Eve. Then the two of them romped about naked in the garden until Eve was tempted by a talking snake, to eat an apple from a tree that God told them not to eat, and then Eve gave it for Adam to eat as well. God found out, and was very mad, and kicked them out of the garden, and made them toil and sweat in the wilderness. And now we have to live a hard life and risk the possibility of going to hell as punishment because of it; unless we believe in Jesus and then we can go to heaven when we die. Sound familiar?
So then, lets get this straight. God puts a tree in the middle of the Garden, and tells Adam not to eat from that tree, or there are fatal consequences, in order to test Adam's love for God right? Supposedly God gave Adam a "free will" to choose to obey. But, since God is all knowing, then He must have know that Adam would disobey before He created him of course. Since that is true, then what kind of God is it who would do such a thing? He builds a perfect Garden Paradise, He puts man in it to enjoy, then He puts a deadly toxic tree right in the middle, and makes sure that it is desirous; like chocolate cake to a weight watchers client. Then He tells the man not to eat it, knowing full well that he is going to eat it anyway, all to "test" his love and then we blame Adam? How do you think you would fair with such a test?
Would you do such a thing to your children? Put them in a room filled with toys to play with, but then put the most tempting toy right in front of them; which you have poisioned; and then tell them not to play with that toy; and then walk out of the room to see if they would obey you out of love? Of course not! You would do everything you could to protect them with your life! Yet, we accuse God of such a heinous act! Not only that, but that He knew the end result before He began, and did it anyway! Is this making you feel all lovey and worshipful of God yet?
No wonder we have such a screwed up theology about God! I did not realize how screwed up it was until a number of years ago, I heard a sermon about the plan and purpose of God, that completely changed my whole Christian understanding and walk! And believe me when I tell you, that when your understanding is changed, your walk will change right along with it! It has to change since we act according to what we believe, not what we say.
There is so much truth to uncover in just the first few chapters of Genesis it is impossible to do any indepth study in a blog post, so I encourage you to question the things you were told with a kindergarten mentality about what really was going on between God and man in the Garden of Eden. Consider the possiblity that God really does have a plan, and that such a plan was not thwarted whatsoever in the Garden, but rather carried out perfectly in every detail!
I covered some of these points in earlier posts, but let me start the ball rolling with a couple of points here. I believe that when God said, "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness" that the man He was talking about was NOT Adam! He was talking about the New Creation Man! You see, the whole story in the Garden is not a patching up of mistakes, using the death of Jesus as plan B. The fact is that Adam had to fall. God set him up to fall. and when it was done, there are a couple verses that show the plan is in motion. Gen 3:22 "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:" Well, isn't that what God wanted for man to become made in His image and likeness? Well, this was only step one in the process. Don't worry, God knows what He is doing, and He has everything under control. As a matter of fact He goes on to promise this will all work out when he says "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." Gen.6:3 The strife will end, and creation shall be restored!
In fact, He does not lose even one of His creation as we find out more details in the New Testament! The death of Jesus ends the Adamic race, and begins a whole New Creation of beings! We are all Spiritual beings on this human journey! (say, what a neat title for a blog:-)) The fact is that each one of us is at a different point in this journey, with a specific detailed plan designed by our creator Himself, to bring us to a place where these momentary troubles will not be worthy to compare with the Glory that shall be revealed in us!
We are training for reigning, and there is much more to learn. Lets start with a better understanding of God's purpose, and not falsely accuse Him of failure. He did not fail, it is us who failed to grow up and graduate from The KinderGarden of Eden
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Conflicting Evidence
For those of you who have been following my blog posts, you already know that I am a licensed sport pilot. A sport pilot is sort of a step below a private pilot, in that there are certain limitations with the gross weight and performance of the airplane, and some limits to the airspace I can fly in; also I can only carry one passenger. Anyway, my reason for bringing this up is to explain why I was reading a recent flying magazine article which caught my attention; and how the factors presented in an article related in my mind to a spiritual application, which I thought I would share in this post.
A brief synopsis of the article is about an accident that took place in Alaska with a high time experienced pilot who was familiar with the area he was flying. He had flown the route many times before, and on this particular day, he mistakenly entered the wrong destination into two GPS tracking devices in his plane. Not knowing this, he followed the GPS route at an altitude which was safe enough for his intended destination, but not so for the route he was mistakenly taking. The weather was obscured, and he crashed his plane into the side of a mountain that would not have been there if he was on the right course.
The writer of the article warns that pilots must maintain "situational awareness, unfortunately you can be highly aware of your situation,...and yet be operating in some mistaken conception about what that situation actually is." He goes on to say (and the point that I want to emphasise is) : "Something built into our brains inclines us to ignore evidence that conflicts with expectation." This truism was evident in this pilot's accident, and it also applies to many other areas of our lives, including that which is spiritual.
We all have an expectation of believing the truth, and once we are convinced of that, we are prime candidates to ignore conflicting evidence to what we believe. An atheist believes that there is no God. He expects that he or she is right in that belief. Therefore, any contrary evidence that conflicts with what he believes will be ignored. It is possible to "win the argument" with enough facts to contradict their belief, and to show them they are wrong beyond reason, and yet they still will ignore those facts to continue in their belief or unbelief so to speak. Another way of saying the same basic idea is the axiom, "A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still."
Such a thing will continue until God intervenes with a revelation of Himself! And it must be so! To become a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a spiritual accomplishment! One is not to be convinced by reason, for if someone convinces you to believe with reasoning words , then someone else with more eloquent reasoning words can convince you otherwise!
Of course words are often what is used to convey the truth, whether written such as this or spoken, such as preaching or witnessing. "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. I Cor. 1:21 So we see that it is always the Spirit of God acting in concert with the words being spoken. However we must understand that it is not the natural man that is being acted upon, nor convinced of Truth, but rather the seed of God is being germinated within, thus the "born again" or "born from above" experience.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Cor. 2:14
I am always in wondrous awe at the creative ways in which God will act upon a person to reveal the truth of Himself to them. One such story that I want to share came to my attention in a newspaper interview of a Dr. Eben Alexander who wrote a best selling book called "A Proof of Heaven; A Neurosurgeon's Jouney into the Afterlife."
He describes that while doctors will sometimes explain near death experiences (NDE) as an experience of a dying brain, in his case his brain for all intents and purposes was completely dead! He describes his NDE experience, with more spiritual truth than I have heard from many Christians. Perhaps because most Christians relate what they have been told rather than experienced for themselves.
One part stands out to me in particular where he says he "now believes the brain is similar to a reducing valve that dumbs down consciousness to what we need to function in the here and now. And that when the valve is removed by death, our consciousness is freed to expand to its full capacity." I suggest that what he calls a reducing valve might be better termed the Adamic man.
The article continues to say that "his NDE has changed everything about him. He now sees everyone as eternal spiritual beings who are in their present forms only for this act of an incredible play... I now see the hardships, difficulties and hurdles in life... as opportunities for growth,... and that has everything to do with our purpose for being here."
While I do not agree with some of the conclusions he comes to, I think that some of it is a result of his trying to make sense of the reasoning for what he experienced, not from the experience itself. In other words, he believes "the evil in the world is necessary in order for humans to have free will." I think that is a conclusion he formed based on his experience, not something that was explained to him during his experience. I am convinced that we do not have free will. And for more of an explanation on that, you can read earlier posts.
Anyway, this doctor, like all of us have a tendency to ignore evidence that conflicts with expectation. As a medical doctor, he could explain away many of the NDE of other people, and until his own experience that went beyond any medical explanation. Funny thing is that even the truth of this doctor's experience is not enough for most people to resist ignoring the evidence that conflicts with their own expectation of truth which they have come to believe.
The great part of our dealing with an Infinite and Sovereign, Loving and Merciful God is that our experience with having a born again spiritual relationship with Him, far exceeds any conflicting reasonable explanations or other so called contrary- Conflicting Evidence!
A brief synopsis of the article is about an accident that took place in Alaska with a high time experienced pilot who was familiar with the area he was flying. He had flown the route many times before, and on this particular day, he mistakenly entered the wrong destination into two GPS tracking devices in his plane. Not knowing this, he followed the GPS route at an altitude which was safe enough for his intended destination, but not so for the route he was mistakenly taking. The weather was obscured, and he crashed his plane into the side of a mountain that would not have been there if he was on the right course.
The writer of the article warns that pilots must maintain "situational awareness, unfortunately you can be highly aware of your situation,...and yet be operating in some mistaken conception about what that situation actually is." He goes on to say (and the point that I want to emphasise is) : "Something built into our brains inclines us to ignore evidence that conflicts with expectation." This truism was evident in this pilot's accident, and it also applies to many other areas of our lives, including that which is spiritual.
We all have an expectation of believing the truth, and once we are convinced of that, we are prime candidates to ignore conflicting evidence to what we believe. An atheist believes that there is no God. He expects that he or she is right in that belief. Therefore, any contrary evidence that conflicts with what he believes will be ignored. It is possible to "win the argument" with enough facts to contradict their belief, and to show them they are wrong beyond reason, and yet they still will ignore those facts to continue in their belief or unbelief so to speak. Another way of saying the same basic idea is the axiom, "A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still."
Such a thing will continue until God intervenes with a revelation of Himself! And it must be so! To become a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a spiritual accomplishment! One is not to be convinced by reason, for if someone convinces you to believe with reasoning words , then someone else with more eloquent reasoning words can convince you otherwise!
Of course words are often what is used to convey the truth, whether written such as this or spoken, such as preaching or witnessing. "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. I Cor. 1:21 So we see that it is always the Spirit of God acting in concert with the words being spoken. However we must understand that it is not the natural man that is being acted upon, nor convinced of Truth, but rather the seed of God is being germinated within, thus the "born again" or "born from above" experience.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Cor. 2:14
I am always in wondrous awe at the creative ways in which God will act upon a person to reveal the truth of Himself to them. One such story that I want to share came to my attention in a newspaper interview of a Dr. Eben Alexander who wrote a best selling book called "A Proof of Heaven; A Neurosurgeon's Jouney into the Afterlife."
He describes that while doctors will sometimes explain near death experiences (NDE) as an experience of a dying brain, in his case his brain for all intents and purposes was completely dead! He describes his NDE experience, with more spiritual truth than I have heard from many Christians. Perhaps because most Christians relate what they have been told rather than experienced for themselves.
One part stands out to me in particular where he says he "now believes the brain is similar to a reducing valve that dumbs down consciousness to what we need to function in the here and now. And that when the valve is removed by death, our consciousness is freed to expand to its full capacity." I suggest that what he calls a reducing valve might be better termed the Adamic man.
The article continues to say that "his NDE has changed everything about him. He now sees everyone as eternal spiritual beings who are in their present forms only for this act of an incredible play... I now see the hardships, difficulties and hurdles in life... as opportunities for growth,... and that has everything to do with our purpose for being here."
While I do not agree with some of the conclusions he comes to, I think that some of it is a result of his trying to make sense of the reasoning for what he experienced, not from the experience itself. In other words, he believes "the evil in the world is necessary in order for humans to have free will." I think that is a conclusion he formed based on his experience, not something that was explained to him during his experience. I am convinced that we do not have free will. And for more of an explanation on that, you can read earlier posts.
Anyway, this doctor, like all of us have a tendency to ignore evidence that conflicts with expectation. As a medical doctor, he could explain away many of the NDE of other people, and until his own experience that went beyond any medical explanation. Funny thing is that even the truth of this doctor's experience is not enough for most people to resist ignoring the evidence that conflicts with their own expectation of truth which they have come to believe.
The great part of our dealing with an Infinite and Sovereign, Loving and Merciful God is that our experience with having a born again spiritual relationship with Him, far exceeds any conflicting reasonable explanations or other so called contrary- Conflicting Evidence!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
A Reason For The Season?
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10,11
This quote from the angels to the shepards watching over their flocks that night, which is recorded by Luke in his Gospel IS the reason Christians celebrate this season we call Christmas (and part of the reason some others do not)!
Now, there has been a controversy for years about the meaning of Christmas, and the war on Christmas, and the commercialism of Christmas. Some Christians get upset for fear that Christ is being taken out of Christmas, and others believe that He was never "in" Christmas. We do not know the actual date of the birth of Jesus, and it was very likely that it was not during December anyway. There is a lot of myths and traditions surrounding this particular holiday that some object to, and others defend.
While I am aware of the many arguments from both sides, the brevity of this post cannot do more than to acknowledge such controversy, in order for me to focus the emphasis of this post mostly on a comment I have about a very recent and public tragedy, shed in the light of an important reason for this season.
The recent public tragedy I am referring to is of course the mass shooting, and murder of 20 kids and 6 adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. During one of the many news broadcasts, and human interest stories that I listened to, it was mentioned that some of the families were taking down their Christmas decorations because they did not feel it was appropriate to celebrate the holiday in light of fact that their children were killed. And who am I to say any different? Indeed they have every right to express their grief in whatever way that gives them some relief.
There is no right or safe way for me to comment from the outside about what those on the inside choose to do, but I am hoping that since it is after the fact, and this Christmas will have passed by the time this is posted, my thoughts may be considered with less emotion and more reason, whether agreed to, or disagreed to by the reader.
The first thing that came to mind after hearing about the desire to "cancel Christmas" was; that if Christmas was just a holiday, and had no other meaning other than a secular celebration of Santa, and toys, and days off school, and parties, then by all means, take the decorations down! There is no joy available, nor hope of any goodness nor reason to celebrate so soon after such an event. And every year for years to come, this time of year will bring fresh memories to tarnish any future joy or happiness in the Christmas' to come.
But, if indeed, the True meaning of Christmas; yes the True Reason for the Season is understood to be in fact, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, then there is no more appropriate NEED for Christmas than right now! "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." I Thess. 4:13
The school shooting replaced their hope with despair, but Christmas is all about the One who is the Hope of the world! The school shooting is all about an evil act, and yet Christmas is all about an act of the highest Love! The school shooting was an act causing death with weapons of warfare, and yet Christmas is all about an act of the giving of life with an announcement of "Peace on earth, good will toward men!"
For those families in Connecticut, this Christmas season came with a terrible act of violence, causing much weeping and sorrow. Likewise, at the time of the birth of the Savior of the world, it was also filled with a great act of violence and bloodshed. " When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Matt. 2:16-18
If Christmas is a time of celebration for celebration's sake, then by all means take the decorations down! If it is just another holiday, then take the decorations down. If it has no meaning or significance, then everybody; take the decorations down! What are you celebrating anyway? If it is just so that the stores can add profit enough to get out of the red, and into the black, then that is not enough of a reason for anyone to bother with all of the trouble and expense.
This post is not meant in anyway to chastise anyone for their sorrow, or their handling of their sorrow, but if it can be received in the way it is intended, then my hope is that by reflecting on the greater hope that we have because of a death, that began as a birth, in a little town in the Middle East, some 2,000 plus years ago; then whether we are talking about this tragedy, or any other at any other time of year, there is one who came to heal the broken hearted, and to set those who are captive free.
The Christmas season can hold a lot good and bad memories for a lot of people. I think everyone has Christmas memories they can share. I remember some of the gifts I got for Christmas when I was younger, and the traditions we had as a family growing up. We even have some traditions of our own now, and memories that we have fostered over the years.
I watched videos of soldier dads surprising their kids by coming home on Christmas, which will be remembered by them for a life time, but their are never videos of the dads that don't make it home which will be remembered too. My friend's dad died just a few weeks ago, and my dad is spending this Christmas in the hospital.
All of these are strong memories tied to a very memorable time of year, which is either just memorable because it is just another holiday, or it is a special holiday, because it has a special reason for it's existence. Special because it is used to celebrate the promise of Hope, and Love, and Salvation, and Joy to the world!
Perhaps, it is a good idea to keep the decorations up. Perhaps, such promise can heal the wounded hearts.Perhaps hope can replace despair. Perhaps, we can once again discover that out of the dung pile of evil, the Rose of Sharon can still bloom, in our hearts and provide for all mankind, A Reason For The Season?
This quote from the angels to the shepards watching over their flocks that night, which is recorded by Luke in his Gospel IS the reason Christians celebrate this season we call Christmas (and part of the reason some others do not)!
Now, there has been a controversy for years about the meaning of Christmas, and the war on Christmas, and the commercialism of Christmas. Some Christians get upset for fear that Christ is being taken out of Christmas, and others believe that He was never "in" Christmas. We do not know the actual date of the birth of Jesus, and it was very likely that it was not during December anyway. There is a lot of myths and traditions surrounding this particular holiday that some object to, and others defend.
While I am aware of the many arguments from both sides, the brevity of this post cannot do more than to acknowledge such controversy, in order for me to focus the emphasis of this post mostly on a comment I have about a very recent and public tragedy, shed in the light of an important reason for this season.
The recent public tragedy I am referring to is of course the mass shooting, and murder of 20 kids and 6 adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. During one of the many news broadcasts, and human interest stories that I listened to, it was mentioned that some of the families were taking down their Christmas decorations because they did not feel it was appropriate to celebrate the holiday in light of fact that their children were killed. And who am I to say any different? Indeed they have every right to express their grief in whatever way that gives them some relief.
There is no right or safe way for me to comment from the outside about what those on the inside choose to do, but I am hoping that since it is after the fact, and this Christmas will have passed by the time this is posted, my thoughts may be considered with less emotion and more reason, whether agreed to, or disagreed to by the reader.
The first thing that came to mind after hearing about the desire to "cancel Christmas" was; that if Christmas was just a holiday, and had no other meaning other than a secular celebration of Santa, and toys, and days off school, and parties, then by all means, take the decorations down! There is no joy available, nor hope of any goodness nor reason to celebrate so soon after such an event. And every year for years to come, this time of year will bring fresh memories to tarnish any future joy or happiness in the Christmas' to come.
But, if indeed, the True meaning of Christmas; yes the True Reason for the Season is understood to be in fact, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, then there is no more appropriate NEED for Christmas than right now! "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." I Thess. 4:13
The school shooting replaced their hope with despair, but Christmas is all about the One who is the Hope of the world! The school shooting is all about an evil act, and yet Christmas is all about an act of the highest Love! The school shooting was an act causing death with weapons of warfare, and yet Christmas is all about an act of the giving of life with an announcement of "Peace on earth, good will toward men!"
For those families in Connecticut, this Christmas season came with a terrible act of violence, causing much weeping and sorrow. Likewise, at the time of the birth of the Savior of the world, it was also filled with a great act of violence and bloodshed. " When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Matt. 2:16-18
If Christmas is a time of celebration for celebration's sake, then by all means take the decorations down! If it is just another holiday, then take the decorations down. If it has no meaning or significance, then everybody; take the decorations down! What are you celebrating anyway? If it is just so that the stores can add profit enough to get out of the red, and into the black, then that is not enough of a reason for anyone to bother with all of the trouble and expense.
This post is not meant in anyway to chastise anyone for their sorrow, or their handling of their sorrow, but if it can be received in the way it is intended, then my hope is that by reflecting on the greater hope that we have because of a death, that began as a birth, in a little town in the Middle East, some 2,000 plus years ago; then whether we are talking about this tragedy, or any other at any other time of year, there is one who came to heal the broken hearted, and to set those who are captive free.
The Christmas season can hold a lot good and bad memories for a lot of people. I think everyone has Christmas memories they can share. I remember some of the gifts I got for Christmas when I was younger, and the traditions we had as a family growing up. We even have some traditions of our own now, and memories that we have fostered over the years.
I watched videos of soldier dads surprising their kids by coming home on Christmas, which will be remembered by them for a life time, but their are never videos of the dads that don't make it home which will be remembered too. My friend's dad died just a few weeks ago, and my dad is spending this Christmas in the hospital.
All of these are strong memories tied to a very memorable time of year, which is either just memorable because it is just another holiday, or it is a special holiday, because it has a special reason for it's existence. Special because it is used to celebrate the promise of Hope, and Love, and Salvation, and Joy to the world!
Perhaps, it is a good idea to keep the decorations up. Perhaps, such promise can heal the wounded hearts.Perhaps hope can replace despair. Perhaps, we can once again discover that out of the dung pile of evil, the Rose of Sharon can still bloom, in our hearts and provide for all mankind, A Reason For The Season?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
His Purpose In All Things
"There are a few days when I have blog thoughts, usually
while I am working, but then the thought will vanish, or I am too tired to post
it, or not enough time. Or I am mostly lazy about it. So, unless something
particular stands out, and I feel compelled to write, then a lot of time will
pass between posts."
So goes a quote from me to a previously mentioned friend, with whom I share such similar Spiritual views it is as if we are of One Voice.
The following is his response, which I have been permitted to post here. I am in so much agreement, that once again, it is as if he put words to my thoughts. Part of the reason for being so open in posting this here is that I am convinced that for some it may be a source of encouragement, since it is easy to loose sight of the fact that first; there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! And second; God is in Sovereign control of ALL things in His universe. The universe doesn't contain Him, He contains the universe! Thus, we should rest in His ability to accomplish His purpose in us, using all things to work together for good!
My friend's email begins:
"I sure do understand this attitude about the things of
God......Sometimes. at work when I can do little about it because I am at work I
will get this tremendous urge to seek Him, to write something or other. Well, I
can't do it at that time. But, later when I have time my focus is gone and I
can't seem to muster any motivation to do those things. I would rather watch a
ball game or a movie or go online and look up some frivolous unimportant stuff.
I know I am wasting it but don't seem to have the motivation to right the
thing.....
Yet, I wonder if this isn't the way it is supposed to go
for a season or two? I think of some scriptures in a very different light than
what is commonly taught to support this coldness and lack of fire. What about
the scripture that says that another generation was raised up that didn't know
the ways of God.....This generation was the one after Moses/Joshua's time that
hadn't seen God's mighty works and so didn't believe so demonstratively. Well,
what if during our sojourn here it is necessary to live through times when He
brings up a generation within us, that is, a season of time that we have those
great works we have seen of the Lord somewhat covered over within our
consciousness so that we live almost as if we never experienced them? They are a
distant memory buried in the spirit realm. What would be the benefit of such a
time? Perhaps to gain empathy for those around us that have never experienced
such things? Perhaps we have some part of us that received such great works of
God in younger days with too much immaturity....Perhaps these things puffed up
the flesh in some ways so now they need be denied so that these dry barren times
would have the purpose of working those things out in some ways?
Now, the church system would tell one in such a state
that they are backslid. Perhaps some are. But, perhaps some don't understand
that this process must take place so in ignorance they have misidentified the
process thus failing to see the true effect intended. This too would be in the
hands of God. But, what if I am right and the Lord is in control of even what
would appear to be a "backslid" state and it is a season we must go through to
have a deeper working of His Spirit within us? What a difficult state to believe
in! Only by the grace of God would vision and faith be given to gain benefit
from such a state seeing His hand working in it.
I think of those scriptures that speak of the falling
of "Lucifer" (the bright morning star). Forget about the teaching that Lucifer
is Satan ( a foolish teaching). We are those formed in the image of Christ by
His grace as bright shining morning stars. What if these scriptures speak of a
process that must take place in the sons of God? What if, even though we be
princes in His kingdom, we must be brought low to the earth again? What if we
must be cut down losing our supposed position of earlier years when we thought
the way was up, up UP! Instead we must go through seasons where we are brought
low, almost unbelieving so that we might truly believe in ways we never dreamed
of. What if these ways that religion identifies as being meant for those
estranged and outside the faith are actually our ways that we must go to know
Him more completely and have the deeper workings of flesh taken care of. Who
would travel such ways by their own volition? Who would identify such ways as
godly? The natural religious man avoids these things as a plague but we are led
right into them! They are given power over us for a time!"
Aren't you glad I could share this writing? I think that there are too many times Christians will live under condemnation, or denial because of a distorted spiritual self assessment, not realizing that even those things we struggle with are still included in the total package being part of His Purpose In All Things
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Heavenly Laughter!
Psalm 2
1Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and distress them in his great displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Here is another example of a suprising new way of looking at a familiar verse, and a surprising way in which it came about. I am a truck driver for a freight company, and because it has been slow lately in the driving assignment that I have, they have me working the freight dock in the meantime. Well, that is one of my least favorite jobs to do, and now it is cold and always for me, a laborious boring task. I liken it to breaking big rocks into little rocks!
Once again Cindi comes into play here. I texted her to say that I was working the dock, and she replied that God must have some plan in mind. I joked that I was camping at camp murmur (see previous post). We joked about God taking delight in our misery, and I quoted "He that sits in the heavens shall laugh!"
Then the thought immediately strikes me with a question: "Who is the "he" that is sitting in the heavens? Where are you sitting? Aren't you seated in heavenly places?" Well, look at that verse in Eph. 2:6 "And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
Okay, so lets look at some of these things. First thing that comes to mind is that "Heavenly Places" is NOT a location. It is not a literal place, it is a LIFE. Have you ever met someone very happy, and they say "I am in heaven!" They are not far from the truth! If we get our mind out of the natural earthy mindset, and focus on the mind of the Spirit, then we can have our head in heavens too; figuratively of course.
Secondly what comes to mind is that we are seated. Sitting in the figurative sense, as well as literal I guess is a place of rest, and a place of authority. A king sits on the throne. A judge sits behind the bench. These are places of authority, and there is no activity, but rather being at rest in the work that is being accomplished.
So, there we have it. We are sitting at rest in a place of authority in the heavens! And laughing, while we are at it! Ha. What then does that mean? Well, my guess is that it is more out of a sense of security and safety in the Sovereignty of God! In other words, not a care in the world. And why should we have a care in the world, when we are not of this world!? And when those in the world system would try to threaten our position in the heavens, (look at vs. 2,3) then we can laugh at the absurdity of it all (vs 4)! I think their derision maybe comes from confusion about their failed efforts.
I am sure that a more thorough examination of this Psalm would provide much more insight than the brevity of this post is meant to convey, and yet at the same time, if this provides a spark for some revelation of your own, then it is more than purposeful as kindling so to speak. Permit me if you will, some more comments.
Over and over we are reminded to "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Phil. 2:5 and to,"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Col. 3:2 and also to, "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,..." Rom.12:2. I am reminding myself by also telling you this, that we have been blessed in abundant measure; more than we could ask or think, in ways that go beyond any material measures! How could material things ever compare to the Grace and Peace and Love and Mercy that we have received from the Lord? How much worldly riches would you spend in exchange for one moment of Revelation of Truth that you have received from the Creator of the universe? Frederick Martin Lehman 1868-1953 tried to explain such a task in the following lyrics:
The love of God is greater farThan tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,And pardoned from his sin.
When years of time shall pass away,And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky.
For us all to live each day with our hearts filled with an attitude of such wonderous awe, I cannot imagine ever having a day not overflowing with Heavenly Laughter!
1Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and distress them in his great displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Here is another example of a suprising new way of looking at a familiar verse, and a surprising way in which it came about. I am a truck driver for a freight company, and because it has been slow lately in the driving assignment that I have, they have me working the freight dock in the meantime. Well, that is one of my least favorite jobs to do, and now it is cold and always for me, a laborious boring task. I liken it to breaking big rocks into little rocks!
Once again Cindi comes into play here. I texted her to say that I was working the dock, and she replied that God must have some plan in mind. I joked that I was camping at camp murmur (see previous post). We joked about God taking delight in our misery, and I quoted "He that sits in the heavens shall laugh!"
Then the thought immediately strikes me with a question: "Who is the "he" that is sitting in the heavens? Where are you sitting? Aren't you seated in heavenly places?" Well, look at that verse in Eph. 2:6 "And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
Okay, so lets look at some of these things. First thing that comes to mind is that "Heavenly Places" is NOT a location. It is not a literal place, it is a LIFE. Have you ever met someone very happy, and they say "I am in heaven!" They are not far from the truth! If we get our mind out of the natural earthy mindset, and focus on the mind of the Spirit, then we can have our head in heavens too; figuratively of course.
Secondly what comes to mind is that we are seated. Sitting in the figurative sense, as well as literal I guess is a place of rest, and a place of authority. A king sits on the throne. A judge sits behind the bench. These are places of authority, and there is no activity, but rather being at rest in the work that is being accomplished.
So, there we have it. We are sitting at rest in a place of authority in the heavens! And laughing, while we are at it! Ha. What then does that mean? Well, my guess is that it is more out of a sense of security and safety in the Sovereignty of God! In other words, not a care in the world. And why should we have a care in the world, when we are not of this world!? And when those in the world system would try to threaten our position in the heavens, (look at vs. 2,3) then we can laugh at the absurdity of it all (vs 4)! I think their derision maybe comes from confusion about their failed efforts.
I am sure that a more thorough examination of this Psalm would provide much more insight than the brevity of this post is meant to convey, and yet at the same time, if this provides a spark for some revelation of your own, then it is more than purposeful as kindling so to speak. Permit me if you will, some more comments.
Over and over we are reminded to "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Phil. 2:5 and to,"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Col. 3:2 and also to, "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,..." Rom.12:2. I am reminding myself by also telling you this, that we have been blessed in abundant measure; more than we could ask or think, in ways that go beyond any material measures! How could material things ever compare to the Grace and Peace and Love and Mercy that we have received from the Lord? How much worldly riches would you spend in exchange for one moment of Revelation of Truth that you have received from the Creator of the universe? Frederick Martin Lehman 1868-1953 tried to explain such a task in the following lyrics:
The love of God is greater farThan tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,And pardoned from his sin.
When years of time shall pass away,And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky.
For us all to live each day with our hearts filled with an attitude of such wonderous awe, I cannot imagine ever having a day not overflowing with Heavenly Laughter!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Camping In Your Murmuring!
It can be interesting how inspiration or revelation will sometimes happen. I think you might enjoy a recent personal example.
My wife Cindi, related to me about a conversation that took place with her boss where she works. He happened to hear her sighing, and asked her what was wrong. At first she said that nothing was wrong, but then after some prodding, she told him that she was just murmuring like the Children of Israel did in the wilderness.
This prompted a long conversation about various things including different translations, and meanings of words and misinterpretations of the Bible. Curiosity about the possibility there might be some hidden gem in the meaning of murmuring in the Old Testament, lead Cindi to look it up in the original Hebrew language of the Strong's Concordance. Here is what that says:
Strong's Number: 03885 awl
Original Word Word Origin awl a primitive root
Definition to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide (bold my emphasis)
(Qal) to lodge, pass the night to abide, remain (fig.)
(Hiphil) to cause to rest or lodge
(Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide to grumble, complain, murmur
(Niphal) to grumble
(Hiphil) to complain, cause to grumble
Translated Words
KJV (87) - ... the night, 14; abide, 7; continue, 1; dwell, 1; endure, 1; grudge, 1; left, 1; lie, 1; lodge, 33; lodge in, 2; murmur, 14; remain, 6; tarry, 2; variant, 3;
NAS (84) - abide, 2; dwell, 1; endure, 1; gazes, 1; growl, 1; grumble, 4; grumbled, 7; grumbling, 2; hang all night, 1; last, 1; left over, 1; lies all night, 2; lodge, 9; lodged, 6; lodges, 3; making, 1; night, 2; pass, 1; remain, 1; remain overnight, 2; remain with you all night, 1; sleep, 1; spend, 2; spend the night, 21; spent, 3; spent the night, 7;
What struck her, and myself as being odd was how that murmuring not only translated into grumble and complaining, as was expected, but how could it possibly also translate as lodge and abide? I think camp was another translation too. They certainly seemed to be pretty strange comparisons, and neither one of us could figure it out!
And so I thought it would remain a mystery. There was no reason to think otherwise, I had no intention of researching it any further. Then a few days later, one morning, I heard Cindi say something downstairs in our house while I was getting ready for work upstairs. Thinking she was talking to me I asked her what she said. She told me in jest, "I was just murmuring..... or camping, I don't know which!"
To which I replied, "Maybe you are camping IN your murmuring?"
And then it struck me!
Camping in your murmuring! Dwelling in your murmuring! Lodging in your murmuring! Murmuring and Living there! Perhaps that is what the verse is trying to convey. The idea that the Children of Israel were not just a little upset, and then it passed, but rather that murmuring became their whole life!
Hey, we all grumble and complain sometimes when things don't go our way. Often the complaints might be over little things that cause momentary inconveniences. In a hurry going somewhere, and a shoe lace breaks, or the car won't start, or you get a flat, or there is construction, or you get a ticket! All are reasons to cause us to murmur temporarily.
Now, consider the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. Think of why they were "wandering" in the first place. Because no matter what happened they were never satisfied. For 400 years they were in slavery to Egypt, and all those years they would murmur because of their bondage. Then they were delivered by miracles from their bondage, and no sooner got their first taste of freedom, that they complained against Moses over and over again, and in fact, their complaints were really against the God who delivered them and not Moses. They dwelled on their complaints time and time again. Never satisfied! They actually longed for their slavery to Egypt once again!!
Thing about that the next time you start to murmur. Is it something that is rare and passing, or are you murmuring so often that you find yourself Camping In Your Murmuring!
My wife Cindi, related to me about a conversation that took place with her boss where she works. He happened to hear her sighing, and asked her what was wrong. At first she said that nothing was wrong, but then after some prodding, she told him that she was just murmuring like the Children of Israel did in the wilderness.
This prompted a long conversation about various things including different translations, and meanings of words and misinterpretations of the Bible. Curiosity about the possibility there might be some hidden gem in the meaning of murmuring in the Old Testament, lead Cindi to look it up in the original Hebrew language of the Strong's Concordance. Here is what that says:
Strong's Number: 03885 awl
Original Word Word Origin awl a primitive root
Definition to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide (bold my emphasis)
(Qal) to lodge, pass the night to abide, remain (fig.)
(Hiphil) to cause to rest or lodge
(Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide to grumble, complain, murmur
(Niphal) to grumble
(Hiphil) to complain, cause to grumble
Translated Words
KJV (87) - ... the night, 14; abide, 7; continue, 1; dwell, 1; endure, 1; grudge, 1; left, 1; lie, 1; lodge, 33; lodge in, 2; murmur, 14; remain, 6; tarry, 2; variant, 3;
NAS (84) - abide, 2; dwell, 1; endure, 1; gazes, 1; growl, 1; grumble, 4; grumbled, 7; grumbling, 2; hang all night, 1; last, 1; left over, 1; lies all night, 2; lodge, 9; lodged, 6; lodges, 3; making, 1; night, 2; pass, 1; remain, 1; remain overnight, 2; remain with you all night, 1; sleep, 1; spend, 2; spend the night, 21; spent, 3; spent the night, 7;
What struck her, and myself as being odd was how that murmuring not only translated into grumble and complaining, as was expected, but how could it possibly also translate as lodge and abide? I think camp was another translation too. They certainly seemed to be pretty strange comparisons, and neither one of us could figure it out!
And so I thought it would remain a mystery. There was no reason to think otherwise, I had no intention of researching it any further. Then a few days later, one morning, I heard Cindi say something downstairs in our house while I was getting ready for work upstairs. Thinking she was talking to me I asked her what she said. She told me in jest, "I was just murmuring..... or camping, I don't know which!"
To which I replied, "Maybe you are camping IN your murmuring?"
And then it struck me!
Camping in your murmuring! Dwelling in your murmuring! Lodging in your murmuring! Murmuring and Living there! Perhaps that is what the verse is trying to convey. The idea that the Children of Israel were not just a little upset, and then it passed, but rather that murmuring became their whole life!
Hey, we all grumble and complain sometimes when things don't go our way. Often the complaints might be over little things that cause momentary inconveniences. In a hurry going somewhere, and a shoe lace breaks, or the car won't start, or you get a flat, or there is construction, or you get a ticket! All are reasons to cause us to murmur temporarily.
Now, consider the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. Think of why they were "wandering" in the first place. Because no matter what happened they were never satisfied. For 400 years they were in slavery to Egypt, and all those years they would murmur because of their bondage. Then they were delivered by miracles from their bondage, and no sooner got their first taste of freedom, that they complained against Moses over and over again, and in fact, their complaints were really against the God who delivered them and not Moses. They dwelled on their complaints time and time again. Never satisfied! They actually longed for their slavery to Egypt once again!!
Thing about that the next time you start to murmur. Is it something that is rare and passing, or are you murmuring so often that you find yourself Camping In Your Murmuring!
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