Tag Archives: Old Testament

Another Updated Biblical Quotation

Posted on September 23, 2013 | 2 comments
Photo - National Geographic

Photo –
National Geographic

Once again, while thinking about Biblical teachings, I’ve wondered how things might be phrased if they happened today.

Here’s the original:

1 Kings 19

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Here’s how it might be presented today:

The Lord said, “Be prepared, for I will pass by today.”

Elijah looked for the Lord in the Breaking News on cable television, but the Lord was not in the news. Elijah used his iPad to search the Internet, but the Lord was not on the Internet. Elijah checked his smartphone to see if the Lord had tweeted, or sent a text message or left a voicemail, but he did not find the Lord through his smartphone.

So Elijah went to a quiet place, and he heard a whisper, and he knew it was the Lord.

For my part, I think that God brings peace with Him. If we are open to Him, He does not need to startle us. Instead, He waits for us to open ourselves to Him, and comes to us calmly and quietly.

“My Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.”

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Saturday – A Day of Rest

Posted on March 30, 2013 | Leave a comment
Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

In the Old Testament, God the Father rested from Creation on the seventh day.

I suspect that it was no coincidence that after His death, Jesus His Son also rested on the seventh day.

God always shows us how His plan flows together in such a beautiful manner.

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Can’t Escape God

Posted on February 8, 2013 | Leave a comment
david

Michelangelo’s David

Yesterday I told everyone that I wanted to fight back against all the negativity by focusing on the good stuff. As I was pondering a subject for the blog something that shouldn’t have surprised me, did. For me, at least, it’s almost impossible to think about the good stuff without God becoming a part of the equation.

I was thinking of all the parents who are committed to their families. Their kids, who are not in the news because they didn’t do anything horrible or outrageous. Families who juggle school, sports, and other obligations with an eye toward sharing meals and breaking bread as a family. Divorced parents who maintain relationships with their kids in the face of extra challenges.

My thoughts went to the Old Testament when God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse in search of the king who would succeed Saul. Several of the sons were very impressive, but when Samuel thought that he had found a worthy successor, God told him no and said that He saw men’s hearts – what they really were.

When Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons, Jesse replied that his youngest was tending the sheep. David, of course, was this last son and the one chosen by God. David who wasn’t at home because he was the one engaged in his mundane chore.

Isn’t that like it is with us today? Today it may not sheepherding, but taxiing the kids, getting groceries or doing laundry. Yet God sees right through us and knows that we do these things, not for attention, certainly not for glory, but because we love one another and show this by our actions.

Next time when you’re exhausted but putting that last load in the laundry, or shoveling snow, or picking up the trail of school supplies, dirty clothes and whatever, listen.

You just might hear God saying, ” I have chosen you for this.”

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Not Understanding God

Posted on December 27, 2012 | 6 comments

I periodically get comments or notes from readers that point out how God, particularly in the Old Testament ordered the death and destruction of people. Everyone on Earth not on Noah’s ark. Lot’s wife. The Egyptians. Anyone in the way of the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land. To them, this seems to be a most unfeeling and unloving God. I can understand their frustration. I can’t explain God. None of us can.

So what are the things that distract us, besides the Old Testament?

bible

 

We humans condemned, tortured and killed God’s only Son.

Early Christians were persecuted and martyred.

The human frailties of the Christian Church from its earliest days to the present.

Wars.

Sandy Hook Elementary.

It’s tough to understand from the human perspective why god permits these things to happen. If we had our way, we’d all be healthy, wealthy and wise – and live forever.

That is not the way that it is – at least not in this life.

So we toil and try in this life. We screw up. We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and try again.

I wish I had a good explanation that would be compelling for others, but unfortunately I do not.

The best I can do is to try to live an example that at least piques others’ curiosity.

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