Wednesday, August 31st
2 Chronicles 32:24-33
24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. 28 He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. 29 He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. 31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.
32 The other events of Hezekiah's reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David's descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
With this scripture, I see that ingratitude is pride. Not being thankful is pride. How many times have I been given a gift from God, from family, from friends and not responded with gratitude. Too many to count. Somehow, I feel deep down that I DESERVE it. Not so. My parents baby-sit. Grateful? I tend to thank them for it. All the time? I don’t know. God blesses me with a second automobile, first time to have two vehicles between me and my wife. Grateful? Yes. Did I say to God I was grateful? I can’t recall if I did or not. The list truly goes on and on. It shouldn’t be that way. Hezekiah repented before damage was done. I do the same. Johnny Out.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Wednesday, August 31st
Religion Quote of the Day - Wednesday, August 31, 2005
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Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Recovery and Intimacy
Recovery and Intimacy
Often sex addiction develops as a misguided attempt to find intimacy. It never works. When the acting out behavior is curbed, the need for intimacy resurfaces and it is important that addicts deal with this. Addicts who don't develop truly intimate relationships have higher risk of relapse.
The trouble in developing intimacy in recovery is three-fold.
First, having compartmentalized parts of self and lived in secrecy and isolation, recovering addicts often find that they lack the skills needed to tolerate the social and emotional conditions of intimate relationships. Those skills must be learned - and like all learning, that happens a bit at a time.
Second, addicts almost universally have difficulty experiencing empathy. In recovery addicts must first develop empathy for themselves and then extend that to others. This too takes time, work, and close attention to history.
The third obstacle recovering addicts must overcome are blocked emotions. Let's say the emotions are sadness, fear, anger, passion, disgust, excitement, surprise, and joy. Few addicts arrive at recovery able to experience and express that full range of feelings. Some can only experience one or two - some none at all. Blocked emotions block intimacy because emotional connection with other people allows us to feel vulnerable which is an essential precondition to intimacy. Blocked emotions keep recovering addicts disconnected from others and so isolated from intimacy.
This clarifies the work of recovery in several very concrete ways. To move into recovery addicts need to develop interpersonal skill and empathy for self and others, develop awareness of and the skills to appropriately express the full range of human emotions, the ability to experience vulnerability and so connection, all in the interest of developing the capacity to experience intimacy.
Recovering addicts who take the time and care to do this work do better in the long run and have fuller and more satisfying lives.
By Insight Coaching, LLC & A. Michael Johnson Ph.D. PLLC
Tuesday, August 30th
Tuesday, August 30th
2 Chronicles 26:16-21
16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. 18 They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God."
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him.
21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house —leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
Uzziah didn’t repent. Repent is defined below. Note the third definition. Would the Lord change and remove the leprosy had he repented? Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t have that responsibility (Thank God for that!), but I did note that it does not say he repented, and I think that would have been included in the story if he did. Based on the definition, repent looks like a process: Remorse – Changing of the mind – Changing of action.
Repent (verb)
- To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite.
- To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it.
- To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.
Religion Quote of the Day - Tuesday, August 30, 2005
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Monday, August 29, 2005
Response from Marvin Lucas' Message on 8/28/05
Psalm 102:1-11
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
5 Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9 For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
10 because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
Note: He is so consumed with crying out to God that he forgot to eat.
Isaiah 58
1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 29:13-14 (The condition of Judah spiritually)
13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
Note: (Verse 2) They only seem eager to know God. (Verse 4) Improper fasting will be IGNORED!! (Verse 7) The food you don't eat should go to the poor.
- Relationship with God
- Personal Fruitfulness (Growth, Faith, Outreach)
- Family
- Friends & Co-Workers
- Church Unity
Fasting is a powerful spiritual tool that I need to add to my aresonal again. In church, it was asked who all had fasted within the last year to raise their hand. I was not able to raise my hand. There is so much that I need to fast for, friends, family, Kip McKean, to name a few. I am going to make it a point to fast. I am so sad right now with what is going on with Kip, I feel my soul is weaping and my heart aches. I think this is an appropriate time to begin fasting. Johnny Out.
News from Boston
August 28, 2005
The elders are saddened but compelled to address a disturbing development from the recent conference held by the Portland, Oregon, Church of Christ. We the leadership of the Boston Church have grave concerns about our brother Kip McKean's actions. While we love the man and are thankful for good he has done, we cannot be silent in the face of recent events.
As a result of Kip's divisive behavior, conversations and writings, he was warned last year at the Chicago leadership conference by a group of mature elders and evangelists. Kip committed to changes, but his actions indicate that he is not serious about working respectfully together with others. Most recently, he preached and distributed an article and posted the same on the Portland church Web site. The article in effect calls on churches to either agree to accept Portland's direction or to realize that Kip and others from Portland will call out members from these churches to join with them. Kip's actions are divisive and arrogant and must be opposed.
In light of 3 John 9-10 and Kip's conversations privately and publicly, it is clear to us that he is guilty of the sins and character of Diotrephes. He seeks to be first, he maliciously gossips about brothers and churches, and is calling for a plan that intrinsically sets up refusal to welcome brothers who do not agree with his church building approach. He opposes those who would welcome those "he" cannot call true disciples.
In light of Titus 3: 9-11 he is clearly divisive, not avoiding foolish controversy but deliberately stirring it up. With verse 11 in mind, we are adding our voice to that of others recommending his removal from the leadership conference in Seattle in September.
We are further calling on Kip to repent of this destructive attitude and behavior and to understand that the continuation of such will mean that we will have no fellowship with him. In light of the conversation last fall in Chicago, we would consider this a second warning. We would urge you to pray for Kip and for his repentance. We urge you to have nothing to do with efforts that claim to advance God's work, but are in fact, dividing God's people. We are committed to Jesus' message and the Great Commission. We commend you to love one another (John 13:34-35), seek to be united (Phil 2:1-2) and diligently and effectively take the good news to the world around us. In doing these things you will do that which will most effectively silence divisive talk.
There are many, who hold to the truth of the Scriptures and are committed to Jesus as Lord and the mission of winning as many as possible. It is a time to be uniting not dividing. We do not intend to be a church centered on a reaction to Kip or anyone else, but a church focused on building up the Body of Christ and making more disciples. We are aiming for the healthy growth of this church and are continuing to work to that end. We sought input from leaders in other churches such as Seattle and Los Angeles this year and look forward to such continued exchanges. However we will not tolerate authoritarian leadership methods or intimidation to motivate our progress but rather will listen to the Spirit, the Word of God and godly men or women who demonstrate a Christ-like spirit and mutual respect as we mature together as disciples of Christ
The elders of the Boston Church
Monday, August 29th
Monday, August 29th
2 Kings 19:20-34
20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 21 This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: "'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you. The Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.
22 Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
23 By your messengers you have heaped insults on the Lord. And you have said, "With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost heights of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its pines. I have reached its remotest parts, the finest of its forests.
24 I have dug wells in foreign lands and drunk the water there. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt."
25 " 'Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.
26 Their people, drained of power, are dismayed and put to shame. They are like plants in the field, like tender green shoots, like grass sprouting on the roof, scorched before it grows up.
27 " 'But I know where you stay and when you come and go and how you rage against me.
28 Because you rage against me and your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.'
29 "This will be the sign for you, O Hezekiah: "This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
30 Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.
31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
32 "Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: "He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it.
33 By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the LORD.
34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant."
Pride brings destruction. God notices when pride flares up in my life. He sees how pride affects others. He hears our prayers concerning the unrighteous and takes care of the situation in his timing, not mine. Pride brought destruction on Assyria. It can do the same to me, if I remain unrepentant. This I cannot let happen. Repent is the only option. I want to be with God, not against him. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Monday, August 29, 2005
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Sunday, August 28, 2005
Sunday, August 28th
Sunday, August 28th
My study on pride continues. There are only 63 scriptures that show the word “pride.” In my study, I am going to look at each and every scripture. Today is the second scripture.
Leviticus 26:14-20
14 " 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.
18 “‘if after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.
This is showing me early on God addresses the issue of pride. I think I have defined pride in the past, but here it is again. These two are the ones that stood out to me.
Pride (noun)
- Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.
- An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit.
Pride, in the end, will get me nowhere. The saying goes “pride before the fall.” Leviticus shows me just how true this is. God will not let pride go unpunished. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Sunday, August 28, 2005
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Saturday, August 27, 2005
Saturday August 27th
Saturday, August 27th
Today is my father’s birthday. He is now 54 and my son, as a gift, gave him a present at work: a leaky dirty diaper. I slept most of the day, I for whatever reason was just so exhausted. But alas, I knocked out a QT all the same.
Proverbs 8:11-13
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
I am personally in search to knock out the log in my own eye. I have a friend who I see in his character GREAT pride. When he is discipled, he closes himself down, gets depressed, the whole nine yards. Basically, a big pity party. Then he starts to turn on his friends and blame shifts. There are so many issues with him, and for me to approach him, I need to first look at myself and God. Verse 12 (above) says that through wisdom, I can attain knowledge and discretion. I fear God and thus, hate evil. If wisdom hates evil, thus hating pride and arrogance, which would mean pride and arrogance are evil. I also notice that pride and arrogance are grouped together and separated by a comma, meaning that with one comes the other. Can you have pride and not be arrogant? Can you be arrogant and not prideful? I think that also with verse 13, perverse speech catches my eye.
Perverse (adj.)
- Directed away from what is right or good; perverted.
- Obstinately persisting in an error or fault; wrongly self-willed or stubborn.
I can see how I can be perverse. I tend to try to be humorous by poking fun at things, maybe not going to a “perverted” path, but I can tend to focus more on things that are not so good or right. The second definition, “persisting in an error or fault” really hits home. I can harp on something and play it out like it is a fault. I am glad I am doing a study on pride; I think this is really going to help me out and in turn help others. God hates sin. Pride is a sin. God hates pride. I am going to crucify this sin, make a change in my life, and become a better disciple for my God and those in my fellowship. I want God to be pleased with me. I want to be with my God in heaven, and this study is going to help get me to my end goal. This race must be won. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Saturday, August 27, 2005
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Friday, August 26, 2005
Friday, August 26th
Tomorrow is my father's birthday and he will be... well, old enough. His first birthday as a grandfather, too. Well, for every message I hear, I like to do a response, so today, I will be addressing midweek.
This is the scripture we looked at...
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Some things to consider:
Race (noun)
1. A competition of speed, as in running or riding
2. An extended competition in which participants struggle, like runners, to be the winner.
Prize (noun)
1. Something offered or won as an award for superiority or victory, as in a contest or competition.
2. Something worth striving for; a highly desirable possession.
Aimlessly (adverb)
1. Devoid of direction or purpose.
I wanted to show all three definitions, just because I think they are understood by all, but when you look at the definition, something more is added and a better understanding is created. I do it for my benefit, due to my lack of understanding of the english language.
Acts 20:22-24
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Galatians 2:1-2
1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
Galatians 5:7-10
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
2 Timothy 4:1-8
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Hebrews 12:1-6
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
OK, so now my thoughts as I expound on the ideas from Wednesday. First off, based on the definition of race, it is a struggle. It's not meant to be easy. If walking as a christian is easy, then are we walking as a christian?
struggle (verb)
1. To be strenuously engaged with a problem, task, or undertaking
2. To make a strenuous effort; strive
3. To progress with difficulty
The race is hard. Paul wasn't even sure in some scriptures if he would finsih. Paul? Mr. Super Christian himself struggle with being a christian? (Acts 20:24 says "if only I may finish the race" and key word is may) The word "may" suggests doubt. OH MY GOODNESS, PAUL WAS HUMAN? Yes, I am afraid so. So, if those superchristians struggled, I think I may have struggles time to time. Just like the moon, I wax and wane.
Am I running in vain? How scary a thought.
vain (adj.)
1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless
2. Lacking substance or worth
If I don't get to be with God when it comes to a close, it would be in vain. Fruitless. Worthless. Living a life for not. I work hard day end and day out. I try to call a brother every day to encourage them. I am a good guy by most people's standards. Will it get me to heaven to be with my God? I do all sorts of "christian things" and for what? It's for a desired outcome. To be with God. To be an example for my son. To help get my wife to heaven. To take as much with me as possible. This purpose has worth. In vain. Not yet. I want to some day be able to say 2 Timothy 4:7 and let that apply to me. That is an insprirational scripture. "I HAVE fought the good fight, I HAVE finished the race, I HAVE kept the faith." Man, what a good scripture. So, Hebrews will bet me there. "Run with perseverance." What is salvation without a little perseverance? No perseverance = no salvation. I not only have to run, I have to run with perseverance. I have to keep myself from running aimlessly. I have to keep the faith. I like quiet times like this. Gives me fire for the day ahead. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Friday, August 26, 2005
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Thursday, August 25, 2005
Thursday, August 25th
OK, so I had something come up yesterday and it spurned some thoughts, and I was just itching to get in the word to search it out. I have these advertisements on this site, and when you click on them, I guess I generate some kind of money (which, by the way, whatever), but what I do like about them is that sometimes it provides some interesting information and other times, I see things that I absolutely do not beleive. Yesterday, one of them said that there is no such thing as hell. That cannot be true, so to back up my thought, Today's QT is going to be focused on that.
First off...
Matthew 5:21-30
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
This passage uses the word hell 3 times, and it describes that we can go to hell. I could simply stop here, because my point is already made, but I am going to search and dig even deeper.
Matthew 10:26-28
26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
But wait, that's not all, if you act now, you will get these scriptures as well...
Matthew 18:1-9
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
James 3:3-6
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Goodness, it says our own words can send us to hell. I know sometimes I can be a bit harsh with how I say things, especially around close friends and family. I tend to forget sometimes I can let my gaurd down and shut down the filter on my mouth. Generally, what needs to be said is said, but how I say can be a bit tough to hear. And then there are the times that I kid too much. I have a friend whom I hurt every now and again by taking my kidding too far. I don't mean too, but alas, hurt feelings result. I asked for forgiveness last night and got none. I don't deserve forgiveness, though. I do repent, however. This I see is a definate character flaw on my part. I don't think it is wrong to play around and poke fun, but I need to refrain from making fun of others and just keep it too myself (meaning to just poke fun at myself, which I try to do). If I don't, I cause bitter feelings and discord, both of which are sins, and that brings me back to James 3 (above).
Now, my last scripture that truly clears any doubt of whether there is a hell or not (as if there is any doubt).
2 Peter 2:1-10
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
Now, all ten scriptures really bring it home, but especially verse 4. God sent the angels to hell. There is a hell, and God uses it. Hell to me is being without God. I want to be with God so much, and to be without is not an option. Not an option. I look forward to my quiet times. It is something that I hunger for right now. Like the moon, there are days where I am dark and don't want to do them, and then there are days like now where I just have to hold back my zeale a little, just so I can get other things done in the day. These are the best kind of days. I like days like these. So, I am sure I am not the only one who waxs and wains like the moon. But, I am very glad I had this quiet time. I like quiet times where I can prove I am right in my knowledge of the bible and not let false teachings pull me away.
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
The Berean Challenge. A challenge I take to heart. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Thursday, August 25, 2005
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Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Wednesday, August 24th
Today, I move into 3rd all time for most consecutive days with a Quiet Times at 56. (and that is for me personally, of course. I know there are others who are more spiritual than I, and I respect that) Something I started out yesterday was when I give my son the bottle, we pray before he eats. I thought it was a novel idea for a 3 month old, to get him in the habit now. Why wait? Today, I also updated the site and added a few more sites. We now have the correct website for the CR Ministry, for those of you who are interested. I will be adding the 3Xwatch website here in the next few days for those who want to have it for a resource. I want my blog to be a good resource for all who come here. Anyway, here is my quiet time today...
This blog should be called "Johnny's word of the day."
Irony (noun)
1. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
2. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
3. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.
Now, I was thinking about yesterday's QT and then read a little more in the book, and the book was echoing what I was thinking... God plays out the irony card. Think about it. Actually, let's look at it.
1 Samuel 17:8-10, 16, 26, 32-33, 40, 48-49
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." 10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other."
16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
32 David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
33 Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."
40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
Is this not irony? A boy taking out a professional warrior? Now to Gideon (also, see yesterday's QT)
Judges 6:10
10 I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me."
13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
Judges 7:7-8, 19-21
7 The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
Irony? 300 men taking out all the Midianites? The weakest person leading the way? We may think less of ourselves, but God does not. He knows me, he knows what I am capable of, and when I am at my weakest, that is when God uses me the most. Irony? No, that's God. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Wednesday, August 24, 2005
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Tuesday, August 23, 2005
"Love Songs"
We give each other all we know
In silence we still talk
By the light of the stereo waltz
And will you rain down
In your cinematic love truck
I want to hold you like nothing's going to stop us
She comes to take me away
It’s all that I needed
I don't breathe another lover
Flicker on a TV screen
Everything’s more than it seems
The mighty backward fall
Stare at the light on the wall
I swear to this
She felt like velvet
Second blond child she meant it
She comes to take me away
It’s all that I needed
I don't breathe another lover
I’m an alien
You’re an alien
It’s a beautiful rain
Beautiful rain
Beautiful rain
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain. Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell? And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? How I wish, how I wish you were here.We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
"A Groovy Kind of Love"
When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When you're close to me, I can feel your heart beat
I can hear you breathing near my ear
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love
Anytime you want to you can turn me onto
Anything you want to, anytime at all
When I kiss your lips, ooh I start to shiver
Can't control the quivering inside
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love, oh
When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When I'm in your arms, nothing seems to matter
My whole world could shatter, I don't care
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love
We got a groovy kind of love
We got a groovy kind of love, oh
We got a groovy kind of love
You Might Be an Addict...
If you find yourself on your hands and knees putting sheetrock in a pipe and smoking it … you might be an addict.
If you find that you have problems finishing what you start … you might be an addict.
If you find yourself broke the day after payday … you might be an addict.
If you find yourself walking home barefoot but you still feel you got a good deal … you might be an addict.
If you can remember entering the bar but not leaving … you might be an addict.
If you have to grip the bed to stop the room from spinning … you might be an addict.
If you are willing to stick your face in a toilet you normally wouldn’t sit on … you might be an addict.
If you find yourself waking up gasping for breath and the first thing you grab is a cigarette … you might be an addict.
If the words Rizla or EZ Wider mean anything to you … you might be an addict.
And finally, if you can stop anytime you want … you might be an addict.
Note: I personally don't know what the words Rizla or EZ Wider mean, but I am assuming it would be a bad thing if I did... anyway, let me know what you all think. Johnny Our.
Tuesday, August 23rd
Hello All. I am a bit sad today and I am not sure why... everything looks good, but I just seem a little down. I guess it's something we all have to go through every now and again. Maybe it's because I am bipolar. Maybe it is because it is Tuesday. I don't know. What I do know is that God loves me in spite of myself and that is a good thing. Very well. My quiet time is fitting for a day such as this...
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I don't feel very strong right now... but then I also consider Gideon.
Judges 6:11-15
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
When I read this, I think... "Lord, how can I (insert something in here)? I am the weakest person I know? (Now, insert whatever excuse here)." In Judges, God shows us that weakness is not a problem, and then God re-inforces that thought with Paul in 2nd Corinthians. Sometimes that seems so big that I cannot wrap my mind around it... but it is not for me to understand. My job is to just accept that and know that God loves me in spite of myself. With a QT such as this, I am a little more encouraged... I know these feelings will pass, this is not the first time I have felt this way for no reason, and it won't be the last, I am sure. God does take care of me. Johnny Out.
Religion Quote of the Day - Tuesday, August 23, 2005
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Monday, August 22, 2005
Thank You Lord
THANK YOU LORD
This is one of the nicest emails I have seen:
I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.
My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received."
I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.
The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.
Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed. "How is it that there's no work going on here?" I asked.
"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments."
How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked.
"Simple," the angel answered. "Just say, "Thank you, Lord"
"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked. "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep... you are richer than 75% of this world."
"If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy."
"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
Also, "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .....you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."
"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world."
"If you can attend a church meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death... You are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world." "If your parents are still alive and still married. You are very rare."
"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you are unique to all those in doubt and despair."
"Ok, what now? How can I start?"
If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
ATTN: Acknowledgement Department - Thank You Lord!
"Thank you, Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with."
My Son and I
Luke 20:34-38
34 Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
This song, I started to sing to my son one night and for whatever reason, I decided that it was "our" song... people get songs to symbolize relationships for courting and dating and all that, and I thought, what is it to keep me from doing that for a relationship between me and my son? I love my son. He is just the apple of my eye. I never thought I would have these feelings for someone other than my wife and God, but I really love this boy. And time does slip by with him, and that is such a blessing. When you are at work, time drags on and on, but when you are having fun, it goes by nice and easy. That is the way it should be with God, your spouse, and family. Thought I would share this. Johnny Out.
Lyrics from website: http://www.lifehousefans.com/
Religion Quote of the Day - Monday, August 22, 2005
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Sunday, August 21, 2005
Sunday, August 21st - Part Two
Notes from Genesis 2: God puts his hands on things and gets his hands a little dirty. God wants a relationship. He gives Man responsibility so the can understnad each other (God and man). And God is willing to touch and be touched.
Matthew8:1-3, 14-15, 9:20-21, 23-25, 27-30
1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
14 When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
Chapter 9
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
23 When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 24 he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."
Note: He blessed the Sabbath so we would have a day to not only work, but to worship him. The day was given for us to focus our attention to God and family.
Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Note: What is my response to a Holy God?
Johnny's response: I had such a great response the first time I typed this... but alas, it would appear this would be a test of my heart to see if it was just words or reality. My response it to simply respond as a child. So many times, I can get much like a teenager where I say one thing are act out another. I used to teach in the 2nd grade class. The kids and I were all buddy - buddy up until something went wrong. They took it too far. I would place them in time out and they would be convicted, at least on some level. Once they would be able to come back to the activity at hand, we would be buddy - buddy again. Then the worst part would come - the parents. The father would discipline them right there. The kids would be so fearful when I said "parents" because they knew what would be coming. Did they think the parents would not love them? NO! But the kids knew there was a fearful expectation of what was to come. How different is it with our relationship with God? Does he love me? YES! Should I be afraid of his discipline? YES! Are we still buddy - buddy? YES! God, our FATHER, loves me just like a earthly dad does, actually even more. My response is to be like a child and not a rebelious teenager. Johnny Out.
Sunday, August 21st - Part One
Todd Asaad gave the message this morning, and now I shall record the message as well as my response and thoughts.
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens- 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground- 7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." (Probably because he looked at her and said "WO, MAN!")
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Religion Quote of the Day - Sunday, August 21, 2005
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