THOU SHALT UNDERSTAND

There are some good "TV Preachers" out there and there are a few who come up with some really off the wall stuff. Some times I just scratch my head and wonder, "Where in the world did he get that?"

When you read the Bible, or anything for that matter, don't try to read something into the text that really isn't there. If you try hard enought you can make it say anything you want it to say. That's one of the reasons there are so many sects in Christendom.

When I was a theological student I remember hearing this as we studied Principles of Interpretation, "If the plain sense makes good sense don't look for any other sense". This is the first and most important principle.

Tyndale, who died as a martyr for translating the Bible into English wrote:
"Thou shalt understand, therefore, that the Scripture hath but one sense, which is the literal sense. And the literal sense is that root and ground of all and the anchor that never faileth, where unto if thou cleave, thou canst never err nor go out of the way. And if thou leave the literal sense, thou canst not but go out of the way."

For a little more on this subject go to my blog http://2knowthetruth.blogspot.com

The Meaning of a Word

Language is fluid - ever changing.
The King James Bible is sometimes difficult to understand because a word has become archaic and is no longer used. For example: "chambering", in Rom. 13:13. What in the world is "chambering"? My "spell check" can't even find it!

In other instances, over the passage of time, a word or phrase may take on a completely different or totally opposite meaning. For example: In Matt. 13;21 the phrase, "by and by he is offended" would lead you to believe that "after some time he is offended", you know, as "in the sweet by and by". However, three hundred years ago, that phrase meant, "immediately he is offended". We've changed the phrase to mean the exact opposite of it's original meaning.

Gay used to mean happy.
Cool and hot used to refer to temperature.
Pot used to be a container.
Roach used to be a bug.
High was a position not a condition.
The list could go on and it would be a lot of fun.

All this to say "liberal" used to mean generous and tolerant. Yes indeed, generous with someone else's resources and tolerant of everything except conservative views.

The Pathways of the Wind

God's ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother's womb. Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow--perhaps they all will.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Noses, Tongues, and Chicken Brains

Yesterday I mentioned a song I had once heard about how Americans will swallow almost anything (physically, mentally, and spiritually). The song is on an old cassette from about 25 years ago. A miracle that I found it and that it still works. It was written and sung by a young man, Grady Toland. here is one of the verses.

"My balony has a first name,
it's animal remains.
Like noses, tails and tongues and such,
probably even chicken brains.
But I love to eat it every day
and if you ask me why I'll say;
Because we Americans will eat about anything,
if you wrap it up just right."

Oh, please God, help us to see beyond the wrappings, the ads, and the "testimonials".

Check the Ingredients - Closely

I heard a cute song years ago (I'll try to find the words) about American eating habits. The point of the song was that Americans will eat anything if you put it in the right package. There is a lot of truth in it. I've found that usually tastiness and "addictiveness" is directly proportionate to the amount of dangerous ingredients in the product. Remember the ad ditty, "Jay's potato chips, can't stop eatin 'em."

For the past 50 years American consumption, driven by powerful advertising, has fueled the world's economies. We are a consumer oriented society. The advertisers hawk their wares and we swallow it with only a cursory glance at the ingredients.
"Hmm, wonder what that is? Never heard of it. Gulp.

Buyer beware!!! This has a strong application to American spirituality if you didn't catch it!!

Don't Look Down on Youth

In 1904 a spiritual revival broke out in Wales. God used a man named Evan Roberts. Within a year over 100,000 converts were added to the Welsh church. Evan was 26 at the time. The evangelistic team consisted of his brother Dan(20), Sydney Evans(20), Evan's sister Mary(20), and their singing group "The Singing Sisters" whose ages were 18-22. www.welshrevival.com

The Apostle Paul adomonished Timothy, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Tim. 4:12

LET THE YOUTH ARISE!!!

False Hopes -- False Fears

Which is worse?

False hopes.....or false fears?

The end result of false fears is a nice surprise since they didn't come to pass.

The end result of false hopes is bitter disappointment.