Opus 2026-216: Bible medicine

I think the Covid panic did a lot of damage to the trust people have in the medical profession. In our coffee breaks we hear regular antidotal stories about doctors who sold out to make a buck or protect their reputation. Enough are true to make you wonder. I have been blessed with generally good health and I am grateful. Mostly it is due to the grace of God but I think there is also a bit of trust in the provisions God has made to keep us healthy.

The greatest thing we have going for us in that category is the built-in immune system that each of us is born with. During the years I was compelled to teach biology I was amazed at all the things I learned about how the body fights disease. That is part of the reason I think that my philosophy of “Walk it Off” is rock solid. At my advanced age I know about the constant irritation of aches and pains. Generally my body will take care of them.

Of course there are things we can do to aid that. Strangely enough there is evidence that they are all based in the Bible. Can you spell, “Wash your hands?” How about “Get plenty of rest?” I started making a list. I will probably think of other items as soon as I publish this but here are few.

Hygiene and sanitation from the law. Here you have the concept of washing. Some utensils are to be destroyed if contaminated, others can be washed. The priest was your local clinic. He was trained to recognize the difference between leprosy and a rash. We also have the idea of isolation.

Wine was recommended for your stomach sake while drunkenness was condemned. Dietary restrictions to avoided contaminated and parasite laden foods. Moderation was a goal.

The problem in stress and burnout was addressed with the Sabbath. Even slaves and animals were supposed to have the day off.

Chastity is something that gets a lot of ridicule today but we would be a healthier nation if we showed more restraint. Sexually transmitted diseases are one of the problems. You also have the elimination of pregnancy without the protection of the family.

All in all God has given us a lot of clear direction in how to live a healthy life.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-215: The Chicken or the Egg

Psalm 4:3 (KJV) But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Be careful that you don’t spend too much time contemplating this verse. It makes a statement that you have heard denied on a regular basis in standard preaching and teaching.

We often hear about how helpless we are to desire to follow God. We are told that total depravity means we can never even consider doing what is right. We are helpless pawns in the hands of fate and fate is out to get us. There is some truth in that teaching but the truth is in the foundation of our ability not in the desire of our heart. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot earn our salvation.

Now that we have declared the doctrine, let us read the verse again. Notice that the person set apart is already “godly”. It does not say or imply that God made him godly in order to select him. We have a say in whether God looks on us with favor or wrath. We can chose to pursue evil of righteousness.

It may not be part of your doctrine but that is what it says.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-214: Well Raised Children

I went to a birthday party for my granddaughter. She turned eight years old. A hoard of children were going to be there and we would be in a park with a splash pad. What could go wrong? My imagination had many suggestions. None were fulfilled.

I would guess that we had about 15 children present. The ages range from about four to 13. What was really amazing was that there were absolutely no problems. We had no fights and no injuries. At no time did it seem to occur to the children that they could fill a bucket with water and dump it on an adult. They politely asked when they wanted to sample the goodies that were available.

Such children do exist. The one factor I did not mention is that they were all home schooled. I suggest that had something to do with it.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-213: In Which I Am Put in My Place

It isn’t really Click Bait but it comes close. You may have your kids bring in the mail and instruct them to throw out the junk. I am the kid in our house. If you ever look through it you will find a packet of coupons on a regular basis. They come in different formats. Some are in a big envelope. Others come wrapped in clear plastic. The contents are a form of analog click bait. Every once in awhile I am bored enough to leaf through them. I am rarely disappointed, none of it interests me.

That does not mean I cannot be taken for granted or insulted. As I went through the pile I noticed one with a bunch of names on it announcing something called I-Heart Country Festival. On it were listed eleven names. I did not even get a glimmer of recognition for any of them. I assume they are some level of country music artists. It was good to know that I could get tickets from ticketmaster so they must be legit.

I am aware that I am not cutting edge in current culture. As a rule, that does not bother me. I have a saying that I made up for use with the eighth graders I used to teach, “Being the deepest puddle on the sidewalk is nothing to brag about.” At the same time I used to at least recognize the names of the rich and famous.

Do I need to expand my world? Nah. My corner is just fine.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-212: Monday Pulpit: Defining Hope

On Sunday the word “hope” stood out in one of the scriptures referenced. A quick look this morning could not identify the text but the point made is worth repeating.

When Christians talk about hope we run into the wall of common English. To most people hope is what you express when you buy a lottery ticket. It is the feeling you get when the “low fuel” light comes on. It is a wish, a fervent desire. We all know what it is to have dreams.

Christian hope is better expressed with the word “expectation” or “assurance”. That is an important distinction. I think of a recent conflict in our church. We did not know how it would work out. We know what we wished to see but our focus was on the assurance we had of God’s will being done. In the past year we have had two ladies struggling with cancer. One died. One has recovered. Both were sources of joy to those around them because they had the hope within them.

Look at our political world. We are so focused on Iran that we forget the aggressive nature of their Muslim beliefs. We forget the spread of Islam into the west and the simultaneous pressure of Marxism. We often wonder if there are any political voices that are in tune with what God wants to see. In the midst of that we have hope.

Historically there have been many times of disaster and chaos. We may be headed into another one of those. It is already there for much of the world. In the midst of that we need to never let go of the hope that is in us. God has worked through rebellious leaders and decadent societies before and He will do so again. Our job is to be salt and light and to be faithful.

One verse that keeps resonating in my mind is,

1 Peter 3:15 (NASB95) but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Let us live in hope, not of political progress or military victory, but in the assurance that we know the God of the universe.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-211: Thanks Thoughts: Lamb not Mutton

I continue to keep having the question of “Why me?” pop up in my thinking and thanksgiving. Why am I so blessed. I try to avoid the question and just rejoice.

I have also learned to be thankful for whatever level of blessing God chooses to give me. Think of it as the difference between lamb and mutton. Since I rarely eat lamb I can’t speak from experience, but I understand the difference is dramatic. Lamb can be tender and delicious. Mutton can keep you alive and that is about it. Mutton is old, stringy and tough. It will supply you with the nutrients to stay healthy but it is not a joy to eat.

I feel like God supplies me with lamb much more than mutton. What I need to keep in mind is that I should be thankful for either one. God knows my needs. He knows the nutritional value of different foods and the emotional value of different experiences. I rejoice in His level of providing.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-210: No Justice in the World

All eyes are currently focused on Iran. The cry of “Death to Israel” is heard echoing from the Muslim world. I find this a bit ironic based on a recent Bible study.

We were in Jeremiah at one of the places where it talks about the return from captivity. I was looking to see who authorized their return and it came up as Cyrus.

Ezra 1:1-2 (KJV) 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

If that isn’t clear enough for you

Daniel 6:28 (KJV) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

If it were not so serious I would laugh at the attempts of Iran to destroy the Jews. Iran is Persia. They are the ones responsible for the survival of Israel. Now they want to destroy it. Of course you could follow the line of thought that it is Arabs in control of Persian Iran that are the problem.

Don’t mess with what God is trying to do.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-209: On the Street: Slow Food

As I was grocery shopping I noticed a sign in the soda aisle sign saying “No longer snap eligible”. I consider that progress. I have no problem with churches and synagogues having food pantries. If you want to leave a box of groceries on your neighbor’s porch I would applaud you. What I feel is destructive are government programs that hand out largess to anyone who can fill out a form. It creates dependency because the government has no real standards except the votes politicians want to buy.

There is a meme I enjoy. It is based on the signs that you see in the natural parks that tell you not to feed the bears because it creates a dependency. The same thing is true of people. If you do it for them when they can do it themselves you are beginning a cycle that will destroy them. It isn’t about the money it is about destroying initiative and the need for hard work. It removes pride from the mix and makes people into parasites.

It might not be possible to wean people all at once. Limiting what you can get without working is a good beginning, thus soda is not subsidized. I would suggest making only basic covered and no possibility of getting money out of the system. Peanut butter and crackers any one? If the menu gets too boring then there would be more encouragement to get a job.

If you need a better authority, try this,

(2Th 3:10 KJV)  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-208: Uncharted Revelation: I Need a GPS

This past week, I found myself reading all the way to the end of the book of Revelation again. I can’t say that it brought me any great insights or generated any warm fuzzies about the book. I’m just as confused as the first time I read it.

At the same time for some reason this morning during my worship time I wanted a clear view of who God was, and I was directed by the Holy Spirit to read the first chapter of Malachi. I think he wanted me to read the whole thing, but I didn’t have the patience. The first chapter was enough to give me a very clear difference of how God is portrayed. Notice I did not say that God was different but that He was portrayed differently.

One of the things I’ve noticed in Revelation is that God sits on the throne, is described in mysterious and strange ways, and at least in the first couple chapters all you hear coming from God Himself is thunder and trumpets. Other people do the talking. Since it is a vision, the talking is full of strange concepts. The world of Revelation 4 is full of strange beast with lots of eyes. Of course there are the parts where these beasts praising God, which can be inspirational, but the rest just kind of makes me want to shake my head.

Malachi, on the other hand is very clear. God speaks in good Hebrew. I of course, read the translation, but what He is saying is very clear. He communicates truth to Malachi. There are no strange beasts or strange concepts, except, of course, the concepts that the people didn’t want to understand.

Revelation conveys the glory, majesty and power of God. It gives that general sense of awe. At least at this point, I’m not getting any specific instruction in how to be better at following Jesus.

But I guess that isn’t the point of the book of Revelation. It is apocalyptic literature. I’ve had that concept explained to me. What I continue to wonder though is what is the point of apocalyptic literature?

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-207: The Home Statement

What does your home say about you?

The question came to me after visiting the home of some people in the church. It was a beautiful house in hill country. It was immaculate. Everything was in its place. I was not envious. I have quite a nice house. My porch is not as big but has more of a vista. We had a pleasant time and departed home. Later it came to me that I didn’t see much in the way of books.

What does that say about priorities and how people spend their time. It is possible the books were there and I did not notice because I wasn’t looking. In our house you can’t miss them. We had bookshelves built in that cover an entire wall in our living room. Our home speaks of the love of reading and a welcome for grandchildren. Several shelves are just children’s books. The floor is set up for a Lego convention. There is little doubt what the emphasis is.

If you go to my room you again see book shelves and book ends. I have a recliner that sees a lot of business. Within easy reach are several Bible translations and a Strong’s Concordance for each along with other references. Again, you can tell what my priorities and interest are.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-206: Scale of Music

Our church just bought new hymnals. That is not the empty gesture that it would be in some churches. We use our hymnals. In fact our pastor will not approve anything that is not in the hymnal. The emphasis on the traditional hymns of the church was one of the reasons I decided to make this my church.

It was time for new hymnals. There has been a lot of excellent creative work done in the area of music in the last 50 years. Currently it seems to be more an exercise in ego rather than worship but there are still gems in the weeds. If you go back to the early days of Maranatha music you have a lot of worthy music. The new hymnal that was chosen includes a lot of the great work done in the 1980’s and forward. It is refreshing to be able to access them. At the same time the choice made came from a Baptist publishing house so it lacks a lot of the songs I was nurtured on like “He Abides” and “Called unto Holiness”. You can’t have everything. I am glad to get half a loaf.

Years ago I took a class that involved how to lead singing in a church setting. We learned about the downbeat and the difference between 3/4 and 4/4 time. It was one of the most valuable classes I ever took. Too bad “worship leaders” today didn’t take a course like that. If they had they might understand their role as helping people to participate in worship rather than admire the runs of the lead guitarist.

One of the other things that was taught was categories of church music. At the time we had three types of songs available. First were hymns. Those were songs that emphasized the attributes and actions of God. You may have noticed songs that will have a verse for each person of the trinity. A classic example is “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Hymns use His, Him, He.

A second category was called “gospel songs”. This was different to the modern term which seems to have been narrowed down to black gospel. Gospel songs emphasized the personal elements. Think of “In the Garden” or “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” There are a lot of “I’s”, me, mine.

The third category would have been choruses. Later generations would call this praise music. They tended to be peppy and short. Theology was shallow and enthusiasm was expected.

Today I would add a category of “Contemporary”. To me these would be songs generally boring and repetitive with a total dependence on the accompaniment to give you something to remember. When I have been forced to attend a contemporary service I have a hard time knowing when we move from one song to the next. An added quality of these songs is that you have to sing them standing up. I think this is to keep you from falling asleep, but I concede that may just be my prejudice speaking. Also it is more important to sway with the beat than sing the words.

I will not live long enough to find out if any of the contemporary genre will survive for future generations. I don’t know what I will do if the celestial choir insists on using them.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-205: Form a Circle

We are once again going through the ritual of the right where we form a circle, face the center and hear, “Ready, Aim, Fire”.

We are still eating our own. We accuse the left of doing that. We are just as guilty. I am not talking about forcing people out of congress because of their disgusting behavior. That is something we need more of. I am not talking about releasing the Epstein files. If there are Republicans on the list and they actually did something besides be at the same party or in the same town, then they need to be examined and meet justice. I am talking about taking every little wobble or variation and demanding that they leave the movement.

It is not a choice between perfection and perfidy. We need to understand that. There will never be a utopia and Jesus was the only perfect person to walk the earth. It always amazes me the people who say they would never vote for Trump because of mean tweets and he was running against someone who had nothing to recommend them. In Texas I am hearing the same thing about Ken Paxton. He is not perfect but his opponent should be embarrassed to be in the same election with him. We need to grow up. We will never have a choice between totally good and totally bad. It will always be a decision between better and unacceptable.

It is time to embrace the future and vote like responsible citizens electing someone to represent us and not elevating them to sainthood.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-204: Click Bait: Are There Still Bantus?

I found a new source of Click Bait. It is a site called BantuCityDiaries. The poster gives the impression that he is from Nigeria. He speaks with a British accent which would fit that scenario. Beyond that I have picked up little about his basic philosophy of life until the last bit I watched.

He spends him time explaining why Africa is so far behind the world and why he doesn’t think things will get better. One of the points he has made repeatedly is how happy black Africans seem to be even when they have nothing to be happy about. He said something I just had to write down because it was so catchy.

“Celebrating like they have invented the cure for foolishness.”

The last video gave me a better feel for where he is coming from and a reason to doubt how reliable he is. At the end of the video he made it clear that he is an agnostic at best and probably an atheist. He spent a bit of time mocking God. He lumped the Bible together with the Koran. He obviously had a bone to pick.

He portrayed black African churches as being full of opulent hypocrites. He showed pictures of them arriving at church in Bentleys and such. He talked about how rich the pastors were and so forth. I would accept the statements he made about the churches he filmed but I know enough about the various missionary efforts to know that is not the case everywhere. It would be like doing an expose on American Mega churches that have gone woke and are just social clubs for the affluent and successful. I have the feeling his dislike of Christianity clouded his vision.

When I find that someone is unreliable in one area I tend to think that bleeds over into whatever else they are saying. I will continue to consider his click bait but will be more selective in the future.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-203: Monday Pulpit: A Worship Hack

I try to listen. I really do, but my mind keeps asking questions. Like for instance, here is the text for Sunday’s sermon,

Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV) 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It became obvious very quickly that his topic was “Hell”.

Now comes my question, “How do you get a sermon on hell from this text?” The closest you can come is being “least in the kingdom of heaven” but that was not the route. What am I to do?

I apply a worship hack.

I start writing down all the scriptures that are referred to. Sometimes it is hard to keep up but I do my best. If he lingers long enough I try to hear what he is saying or at least consider the scripture offered. The long term pay off is that I have a list of scriptures to consider during my worship time that week. That often delivers gold.

I am not a good listener. I tend to be too critical. The way I am dealing with that is trying to focus on what I cannot criticize. It usually lasts all week.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-202: Repeated Reminders

I appreciate my retirement the most when I have morning appointments that give me deadlines. I have grown accustomed to getting up when I feel like it and knowing I have all the time in the world to do what I need to do. Of course it helped that I was getting up at 5:00 AM without an alarm.

Now with the change in the amount of daylight I find myself going to bed later which means I get up later. Recent doctor’s appointments and breakfasts with my son have reminded me that the rest of the world does not run on my schedule. I had forgotten that there was heavy traffic in the morning.

I am enjoying being retired. When I have reminders of the working class I am even more happy with the way things are. So if you are still working, blessings. Make lots of money so you can pay lots of taxes and keep Medicare going.

I will try to leave something for you.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-201: Making Use of Leftovers

I just finished reading the passages relating the exploits of Jehu in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. What I had missed in earlier reading was the things he did to advance the northern kingdom. I had only had the evil in my mind.

2 Kings 10:26-32 (KJV) 26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

But that was not good enough and we should take that lesson to heart. Here is what God had to say,

29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

God was willing to work with Jehu but the man did not want to make a full commitment.

31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. 32 In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

God is not willing to settle for leftovers. Picture having the president of the United States over for dinner and you serve him reheated tuna casserole. Pick your president. Make it someone you want to impress. It is a strong possibility he will get the impression you were not doing your best. Being polite he might not say anything. Don’t count on the same from God because He can see your heart.

God will not be content with second place. He doesn’t want your spare time. He knows half-hearted when He sees it. Take a lesson from Jehu and if you are trying to get by, reconsider. Eternity is a long time.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-200: Dynamic Language

English is a sponge. It soaks up words from other languages. Even those of us who are not native speakers can enjoy New Englanders trying to pronounce simple words like tortilla or taco. You don’t need to be highly educated to pick up the additions.

I would like to see more Bible translations making use of the original languages. A new translation, the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), has started down that path. They have taken the Hebrew name for God, YHWH, and translated it Yahweh instead of “LORD” which was the previous standard.

There are other words that get confusing when we try to translate them. One that I run into is the English word “perfect”. It is used in the KJV and NASB New Testaments. At the same time I run into people who want to deny that such a concept should be considered. The problem is that they take the modern idea of perfect as being without flaw. That is not what the Greek is trying to convey. The Greek word,“telios” means to achieve the goal set for you. The best illustration I can come up with is to talk about a perfect baby. It wets, cries and throws up on you. It is still perfect if it is mine.

Or I would like to see agape instead of love. The concept of love has been so polluted by our modern culture that it is almost meaningless. Go with the Greek and make people think about what it means.

I am sure there are many other examples. Of course if you are a King James Only person you are quite content with words that now mean the opposite of what they meant in 1611. For you I say, “God bless you and help you know truth.”

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-199: What Is Real?

I am mystified by the phrase, “Real food.” My wife likes to use it when she is passing judgment on something I am eating. It is almost like she thinks I am picking up a plastic decorative apple and munching away.

Real food? If I am eating it, believe me, it is real. You may not like my choice. I have yet to find a steak that meets my idea of well done. It is almost impossible to put too much salt on spinach. I can eat Cheerios without any sugar. If necessary I can even eat sugar without any Cheerios.

I think that real food is some mysterious preparation that has no preservatives or additives. It is a very flexible standard though. When I am asked to pick up a couple of packages of Double Stuffed Oreos I realize that I am not in on the formula for what makes something real. My guess is the formula will constantly be changed to suit the needs of the speaker.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-198: Sovereignty and Free Will

One of the debates in Christian circles involves the concept of free will in men as opposed to the sovereignty of God. Since both seem to be taught in scripture it is not a conflict as much as a seeking for understanding of the infinite.

God is sovereign. Christians believe this. What we differ on is what that means and how it plays out in our daily lives.

Even the most hardcore Calvinist will use terminology about how we accept Jesus. Some have what should be heretical views of making a choice and others look at it as bowing to the inevitable.

Psalm 4:3 (KJV) But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

I might suggest one possible approach. God’s foreknowledge is based on His ability to look down through history and know what will happen. That in itself is beyond our understanding but for the purpose of discussion assume that He knows what decisions you will make without forcing it on you.

Based on that foreknowledge He predestines some to eternal life and some to damnation. He chooses based on your goals in life. We might make mistakes. God doesn’t. Since God is outside time He can make these calls. It might look like it negates free will but that is an illusion of our limitations.

If you meet me at a restaurant you will be safe in saying I will not order liver and onions. You can call it foreknowledge but for me it is a declaration that as long as I am morally responsible for my choices, liver will never pass my lips. It is bad enough when it has to occupy the same room with me.

The choice is up to me but it really isn’t a choice.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-197: Pass the Potatoes, Please

As I was contemplating the prosperity and wealth that we have, I offered up a prayer of thanks for the previous generations who worked hard to build this country. My thinking was stimulated by a piece of road-working equipment parked on our street in preparation for some resurfacing . It has been sitting there waiting for at least a week, inactive and gathering dust. I would probably need to refinance my house if I wanted to buy such a machine but it just sits there patiently.

Have I done my share to pass on the torch of prosperity? I have not built any railroads. I have not invented any great gadgets or processes. I have discovered no new lands or mineral deposits. What have I done?

I guess we should understand that the thousands of men who worked to build the transcontinental railroad did not see it as establishing wealth for future generations. They were simply earning a living. What built the greatness, in addition of course to the blessings of God, was the simple process of believing certain truths and passing them on to their children. The basic values of Christianity were assumed to be of value. They may have been rejected on a personal level but were assumed for society. Thus you may have had an affair with your neighbor’s wife but you acknowledged that adultery was wrong.

We are at a time when those of us who still have a sense of right and wrong built on eternal truths need to get back in the business of being squeaky wheels. We should have passed on such concepts as honesty and hard work to our children. It needed to be done in deed as well as word. I seems that many have abandoned those standards which means that we need to be even more squeaky.

Look for opportunities to pass on the torch of Western civilization. You don’t know what that torch looks like? Get a Bible and start to read it. You may not accept the idea that Jesus is Lord but the principles that are laid down apply to everyone where they believe or not. The workers on Ford’s assembly lines were not doing it for you but they supplied the inexpensive transportation that transformed a continent.

Be a torch passer.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-196: Click Bait: Name the Country

I got drawn in by one of those click baits that was designed to show how ignorant people are about what would be considered basic knowledge 50 years ago. The plan was to show people a map with one country outlined in red. Then they were asked what country it was. There was some kind of reward but none were awarded.

The country was Bangladesh. It was not surprising that no one knew the name of the country but when he asked them what was the country to the left the real ignorance was announced. For those who went to public school in the last 20 years it was India, one of the most recognizable shapes in geography. A couple got that but some had such brilliant suggestions as “Africa”. One proposed two cities.

I doubt if it was stupidity as much as ignorance. What troubles me is that these people had so little curiosity about the world that they had never picked up any of this information. Have they never looked at a globe? Do they ever read anything not posted on Facebook? Have they never leafed through an atlas? They have the ability. They can recite nonsense about their favorite celebrities. They can list the drinks available at their favorite hot spot. They can do awesome things with their phone but their awareness seems to stop six inches from their nose.

Help us.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-195: Compromised or Counted

As I consider the big picture of life I eventually get down to my little corner of the world. To be honest I start there too often and don’t get beyond my fences often enough. The future is up for grabs while at the same time being in God’s hands. I am concerned for my grandchildren because I have had my big shot a life. I expect God to still use me but the time is limited.

When, and if, the time of persecution comes will I stand up and be counted or will I mumble and take a pass? As I look back at my life I can see examples of both. One I am embarrassed by and the other seems too rare. Ultimately I trust God to sort it out.

There are two different standards given to us and we need wisdom to know which to apply. On the one hand we have Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek. On the other hand we see Peter telling the governing authorities that he is going to do what God says rather than what they command. We are told to show love by being patient. We are also told to show love by rebuke and reproof. We are told that if we do not pass on the word of God for repentance that the blood of the sinner will be on our head.

It can get confusing. As I just said, I am counting on God to sort it out. God’s plan for the universe does not depend on my performance. I need to remember that. When I fail He will have an alternative and if all else ends up in the tank there is always the divine fiat that we saw at creation, “And God said….”

That is how grace works on a macro level and on my micro level. I have a heart that seeks to be perfectly obedient. I have a personality that leaves much to the promise of grace.

I wonder what today has in store for me.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-194: The Third Option

I have on occasion proposed that the choice is not between either/or but both/and. I find that useful in trying to understand different manuscripts behind the English Bible. Sometimes a word can have a variety of meanings. Maybe the right one was clear to the original audience or maybe they embraced the flexibility.

As I was thinking about trying to delve into the glories of eternity a third option, which I have given passing mention of, reared its outside-the-world-of-beauty head. That is the option of “neither.” My son and I were debating on how we would spend an infinite amount of time and our opinions were all over the place. My mind went back to a discussion we had years ago in California. I pointed out how much he enjoyed playing with blocks when he was a baby and would have had no concept of computer design.

Eternity will be like that.

We can stretch our imagination to the breaking point. We can be insanely clever. We can turn over rocks and dig in the ant hills of life. When it comes down to it we will most likely find out that we didn’t have a clue.

I cannot make decisions based on the third option because I don’t know what it is. I cannot live with that. I can also live in anticipation of crossing the veil and getting my first glimpse of the “neither” that never occurred to me. For now, in this life, I have all the truth I need to live a righteous life and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

I rub my hands in anticipation and giggle with glee at what I will find.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-192: Change Is Forced on Me

I replace my laptop about every three years. We are past that time and so I set my son on a search for something that would not crash in the first month. That brings changes and adjustments in at least two areas.

First, I need to install the software I want and tweak things so that they work. In the process you have a constant battle with Microsoft trying to force itself into what you want. There is always a learning curve. Part of that is finding where they hid everything to be helpful. Others are changes and you can’t find out why.

Second, software. It has been my practice to purchase a new copy of Word Perfect with each computer. They have been playing the old Find-the-Feature game that they do every time. I finally decided to bite the bullet and move to LibreOffice. I am hoping that I will only need to play the game once. I am already finding a lot of features that don’t seem to be available but I am soldiering on.

There will be a lot of hiccups. A gracious reader informed me that my posts were coming up blank. Who was to know that Blogger would make adjustments without asking. I think I figured that one out but in the process I find other things tweaked. I have always published my full post so you don’t need to click “read more”. Now that seems to be the way it is. That always irritates me but I may not fight that battle.

I have made connections I never bothered with before. I got my printer going on WiFi instead of by cable.

I connected my stereo with Bluetooth. Only the future will determine how extreme I will get with this.

Thanks for your patience on my journey.

Now to see if this gets through in readable fashion.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-192: Utopian Carrots

Welcome to the trap of life. I refer to the way in which we begin to compare our situation to our dreams. We compare reality to Utopia and find utopia unreachable. Can you remember playing something like cowboys and Indians based on some grade B westerns you had been watching or a weekly TV show? Have you ever daydreamed about being the gunfighter that cleans up a town? That is all good fun until you actually have to go out and saddle a horse.

Too often we look at things like national politics, our city council or our church pot luck based on the expectations of utopia. Can you believe what the president just did? You ignore the twenty things he did that pleased you and suddenly he is a pariah because he violated your expectations. He may have even been wrong, but his major flaw was he did not do it your way. Or how about that total barbarian that puts beans in his chili? Can you imagine such a thing?

We fall into the trap of chasing perfection that not only does not exist, but cannot exist. It is like chasing a carrot on a stick. We know what we want. We can see it. We can taste it. It is always just out of reach and we never realize it is made of plastic.

We strive to be like our idols. That is also a trap. Part of that is because we don’t know what our idols are really like. I enjoy talking to young girls who are in love with Mr. Darcy. I point out to them that in real life he smells like a horse and believes that taking baths is unhealthy. He also likes kidney pie. Or the young man who falls in love with a movie star that he has never seen without her makeup. He doesn’t realize that she is 35 and not 18 and can’t hold a conversation with anything but the wall.

We often live in a fantasy world. We have a friend who shared that she was considered a great beauty in New England. We all laughed because although she was attractive enough we would never have thought of her that way. If she had accepted their judgment she would have been impossible to live with.

I have no problem with striving for utopia. The real problem is when we think we are close to achieving it. Life doesn’t work that way.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-191: Monday Pulpit: Always an Escape Hatch

Sunday’s sermon was from Numbers 14. As usual my mind wandered as the pastor’s focus left the actual text. As he had read the entire chapter in preparation for leaving it I tried to follow along and pay attention to what it actually said. It was a narrative that I was familiar with but I find that if I pay attention I will see things that have escaped me over the years.

I was not disappointed. The story I have always heard and repeated myself was that God declared Israel would wander in the wilderness until the living generation died off. They would not live to see the promised land, except for Joshua and Caleb. That is not exactly what it says. Read these two verses and see if you identify the same escape clause that I see.

Numbers 14:22-23 (KJV) 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

At first quick read it seems like a blanket condemnation, but look at the qualifiers. In verse 22 you have the conditional phrase, “and not hearkened” which leaves the door open for some to want to trust God. In the next verse you see the same pattern when the doom is limited to those the “provoked” Him.

I find hope in that. Often in life we are a small voice in a mighty wave of opinion. No one seems to hear us. We are striving against the tide but make no difference in the flood. Disaster awaits. I wonder how many times in the history of Israel that pattern was repeated. Remember the 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal. Think of the repeated use of the concept of the faithful remnant. My desire is that I would be in that pocket of grace that God seems to provide for the faithful.

So join the minority. Be faithful. God may have wrath ahead for our world if there is not revival but He will provide a way for us.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-190: On the Street: A Lesson in Civil Rights

As I was leaving the grocery store today I came to where I was going to cross the street and found a stream of cars approaching. Now I had a crosswalk and I had the right way but what I did was, I stepped back and stayed out of the way so that the cars would know I wasn’t going to cross and I allowed them to go on their way. When we had a break, I made my way across.

Between there and my car a lady stopped me and informed me that I had the right way and that I did not have to wait for those cars to go by. I conceded the point. I was aware of that. But in my mind it was a matter of courtesy. I am one retired, elderly man, as opposed to people that might have to get somewhere in a hurry, and it was only right for me to stand back and let them go. We exchanged some few thoughts, and then we went our way.

What I missed was another opportunity to witness of my faith. I could have very simply said something to the effect that when I waited for others to go by I just felt like Jesus smiled at me. Or I could have referred to Philippians chapter 2, where it talks about considering the other person is more important than yourself. Either way I missed an opportunity.

I am not laying awake nights suffering from guilt, but somewhere along the line I’m going to learn to take those opportunities.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-189: Wildflower Watch: Sparse Times

The drought continues even though we have had some rainfall.  I wait in hope that eventually we will see more blooms.

The rain we had brought out the rain lilies.  They come up white or yellow and age into purple.  They respond to recent moisture so they can appear any time of year.

Out in our rear area, which is usually a blanket of blue bonnets at this time, I noticed two Indian blankets.  They were not in the corner where they have flourished in years past but out in the open.

I am looking for trees coming up volunteer that I can nurture.  I have a mesquite tree that is looking good in its third year and I noticed another coming up above the house.  I still am looking for an oak that is more than a few feet from the established ones.

Spring is here and you can see it if you look in the right places.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-188: Election 2026: Dream On

Have you heard the fantasy about California electing a Republican governor?  I have not looked up the details but what I hear is the top two vote getters in the Democrat designed open primary are Republicans.  The enthusiasm came from thinking the top two vote getters in the primary would be the final candidates.

Dream on if it makes your day better.

I talked to someone living in California who seemed to be a bit more alert.  He said that as we get closer the Democrats will close ranks, tell certain candidates to drop out and whittle it down to be in the final.  To that I added that we also need to take into consideration that the Democrats will be counting the ballots.

Today I saw that the scenario is already playing out.  It seems that Eric Swalwell of Fang Fang fame is being forced out with accusations of sexual impropriety.  Although I have no trouble believing the accusations, the post I read made it sound like the kind of testimony that was gathered against Donald Trump.  It will be managed by the media in such a way to get rid of an unwanted candidate.

So the process of politics continues.  I will continue to vote and speak out, not because I think it will change things but because it is my responsibility.  I will leave the final results up to God.  Maybe we will see the finger writing on the wall again.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-187: Alternate Reality

In science fiction one of the themes is alternate reality.  The concept is that at key moments of decision or action there are at least two possible paths.  Take one such moment that I read about recently.  If Charles Martel had lost at Tours then the Muslim armies would have continued north and I would be writing in Arabic today.  Of course that assumes I would even know how to write.  The story writers will say that such a future did take place and exists in a parallel universe.  In their stories people cross over from one to the other and if they are worth reading, a good time is had by all.

We have seen science adopt the idea in what they call the multiverse.  There is no proof for such a thing.  It defies all the known laws of science but it is the child of necessity. The reason they go that way is because if they don’t they might have to admit the existence of God.  Heaven forbid, if you will excuse the expression.

As I was pondering a conflict in my life this concept came to mind, but in reverse.  The real life situation, which I am sure many husbands have experienced, is when you ask your wife where cheese grater is.  Her answer?  Where it has always been.  Ignore the fact that I did not ask where it has always been even though that might be a better question.  My problem is I can remember at least three different places that it has been kept.  I have checked all three, therefore it must be in a fourth.  Sounds logical but in her universe it has always been in the same place.

I occurred to me that what is happening is that several different realities have come together in my consciousness at this moment.  Right now the grater has always been in the same place.  In the other three realities it was kept in various different locations.

Of course it could be that as my mind ages I just don’t remember.  I think I am going to go with my new theory.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-186: Thank You for Asking

Do we need to understand everything?  That is called a rhetorical question.  For those who went to public school a rhetorical question is one that is either so stupid or so obvious that it does not deserve or expect an answer.  It is obvious that we cannot understand everything.  Even in a perfect world we will each have our area of strength and work together with others to put the puzzle of life together.  The Bible somewhat deals with this when it talks about spiritual gifts.  No one has them all.  Everyone has at least one.  They are given to build up the body of Christ not to glorify the individual.

Some people will go on intellectual vacation.  There are many people who are willing to have someone else make the decisions for them as long as they have beer and football.  When I am in one of those moods I would say they make up the vast majority.  It does not guarantee they will be morally degenerate, just passive.  I believe God has called us to keep thinking and using our minds.

We may come to different conclusions.  Often I can guarantee it.  The bigger the group the more chance for dissent.  The purpose of dissent is to sharpen our thinking and point out our mistakes.  It is not to identify heretics.  The time we should worry is if everyone is in total agreement.

When we differ it could be that one of us is right and the other wrong.  It could also be that we are both half way there.  Of course there is also the good chance that both of us are wrong.  One of my favorite moments in leading a study time was to say, “Of course, in eternity we may find out that both Wesley and Calvin were wrong.”  Without missing a beat one young man contributed a hearty “Amen.”

Keep asking questions.  Make them genuine.  Don’t be the teenager in the back seat who can only keep repeating, “Why?”

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-185: We Need Skunks That Fly

I watched skunks wandering around in the dark this week.  I assume they were looking for bugs for breakfast.  At the same time I was watching numerous flying insects in the floodlights.  Why have skunks not evolved to fly?

Maybe that is what bats are supposed to do.  Then were are they?  I know we have bats and bat caves in the area.  I have occasionally seen them outlined in the dawn light.  Here we have a waiting meal and they are not to be found.

If they can’t fill the nitch we need something else that will.  I am suggesting flying skunks.  I guess armadillos might be able to apply as well.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-184: A Living Definition

On Palm Sunday we joined in the celebration of communion at our church.  It was the culmination of a great time of worship and, in keeping with its title, was a time of great community.  I had several pictures that stood out.

At our church we go forward and kneel at the altar railing.  It takes three or four repetitions of the ritual to serve everyone.  In one group a man and his wife went forward and knelt together but their children did not want to be left out.  The kids came up and squeezed between them and instead of sending the kids back to their seats, they embraced them.  They were not old enough to partake but were old enough to be part of bonding.  I loved the picture.

Another good sign was the many who joined in union that I did not know.  There were a number who looked familiar but I didn’t have their names down yet.  When you always sit in the same part of the sanctuary you miss a lot of names.  In addition there were a good number that I don’t even remembering having seen before.

I hope that everyone sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit as I did and that the spirit of unity will continue to bring us together.

That is why we call it communion 

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-183: On the Street: The Old Cane Trick

I must admit I fell for it.  You might recognize it as the old dropped hanky trick.

I was in the waiting room of the physical therapy center where my wife was getting treatment.  I had my I-pad and a number of things I wanted to write.  I was typing away.  Off to my rear was a wheelchair bound lady who I could see had drawn a total stranger into a dynamic discussion of nothing.  My main concern was that I might not be able to concentrate over their voices.  Little did I know.

I was making progress when the current victim made her escape.  The chair bound woman must have looked around for fresh meat.  She saw me and decided she would appeal to my sense of chivalry.  She dropped her cane.  After a moment’s consideration I decided to get it for her.  It was like the fly in a Venus Fly Trap.  Chomp.

Her icebreaker was to ask me if I knew what a “hussie” was.  I should have answered, “Someone who tries to engage a strange man in conversation by asking him that question.”  I restrained myself and settled down to being polite to a very self-centered extrovert.  She knew I was writing.  She asked me about it and complemented me on my creativity.  She was also hard of hearing so any possible dialogue was off the table.

I kept waiting for her to be called into therapy or have someone come to pick her up.  I waited in vain.  Eventually my wife rescued me.  Even the knowledge that I had to go did not slow her down.  Eventually I adopted her condition of being hard of hearing, waved and walked away.

Was she just a lonely old lady?  It could be but if she is the reason would be found in the fact that she was totally aware only of herself.

Next time I will know to ignore the cane.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-182: The Value of Slow

I had an observation this morning.  I am not sure if it is accurate but it appeals to my sense of the world.  Invasive species tend to grow quicker than the local variety.

The example I have in mind is the comparison of cypress and oaks.  In my part of Texas the cypress pop up everywhere and soak up the water.  The oaks take years to develop.  I have yet to meet anyone who revels in the cypress but most people like the oaks.

Slow growth gives strength.  Compare a cottonwood to a white oak.  The slower growth delivers a strength that the other could only dream of.  If you want a quick wind break, plant cottonwoods.  If you want endurance and can hang around for a generation then go with the oaks.

Dandelions grow faster than roses.  I guess that you might consider the roses the invaders so that runs counter to my theory.

When you look at our society and the people that seem to multiply you can apply the same principle.  The spread is greater when the pollution is not dealt with.  Homelessness, aka vagrants, are rampant in the cities that do nothing to make it an unpleasant choice.  Drugs spread like weeds on a windy day.

The price for a livable community is constant vigilance.  We need to set high standards and enforce them.  If we don’t we will continue to see volunteer trees growing up through the foundations of our world.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-181: The Man, the King

Recently I heard a Bible lesson in which the speaker related how Saul was a bad king and David was a good king.  Relatively speaking that is true but he added that David was the best of the kings of Isreal.  You may have heard that other places.  It is a common teaching but I am not sure it is accurate.

Consider this statement about Josiah,

2 Kings 23:25 (KJV) And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

It seems to me that this is praise for Josiah as king that places him above David if you were making a ratings list.  Notice it speaks of him as king.

We often hear this quote about David,

Acts 13:22 (KJV) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Here Paul is quoting Samuel,

1 Samuel 13:14 (KJV) But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.

The point I would make from this is that God is speaking of David the young man.  This is the David of Goliath fame.  This is the David that refused to kill Saul in the cave.  This is the young, idealistic man before Bathsheba and Uriah, before Tamar, before Absolom.  It is not praise for him as king but for his heart as a man.

David was a man after God’s own heart.  That does not mean he was a king after God’s own heart.  This may not be a great theological point but it is a point.  I might point out that Josiah’s sons did not turn out any better than David’s, and don’t get me started on Solomon.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-180: Order of Worship

As part of my Easter morning worship I read through the four accounts given in the gospels.  Each one tells a slightly different story.  Some differences are minor, others might be significant.  Some details are in all.  They all agree on the one salient point: The grave was empty.

I found a short passage that stood out to me.

John 20:8-9 (NASB95) 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

We assume that the “other disciple”, who is never named, was John himself.  We can assume that he is giving a first hand account of his experience.  What struck me was the two verbs involving the empty grave.  First he “believed” and later it says they did not understand.

How can you believe if you don’t understand?  That was the first question I had.  Then I noticed that the belief was an act of an individual and the understanding seemed to refer to the disciples as a whole.

I think both are important.  It is possible that some people will do a lot of study and be led to belief by the path laid out.  We all need some knowledge or we would not know we need to believe.  The Holy Spirit needs something to work with.  At the same time we cannot wait for that moment when we know everything and have great understanding.  For most of us we believe first and then learn all the details.

The key is the willingness to respond to the call of God.  Make this celebration of the resurrection a red letter day in your life.  Rejoice, pure and simple or repent and then rejoice.  I have a feeling God will settle for either.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-179: Calendar not Clock

When we celebrated my granddaughter’s birthday we debated if she had really yet gained another year.  It involved the actual time she was born and it was generally focused on giving her a hard time.  She wanted to stop riding in the child’s safety seat and we kept telling her it wasn’t time yet.

The resurrection is not a matter of minutes.  It is a matter of eternity, before and after, a total change.  We don’t have a time that Jesus rose from the dead.  If you look at what the scholars tell us we don’t even know the year, but we do know it happened.

Another important difference between a birthday and the resurrection is that you get older automatically but you don’t get the promise unless you are saved.  The hope of the resurrection is not just that your body will rise from the grave but that is you believe in Jesus it will be raised to eternal life in Him.

Our celebration has two major factors.  First, we rejoice.  We have life everlasting.  Second, we share and hope that if you have not believed it would cause you to stop and think.

He is risen.

He is risen indeed.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-178: Just a Reminder

He is Risen!

Take a moment to rejoice. Take another moment to rejoice.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-177: Empty Phrases

There are certain terms that we hear, embrace and might eventually realize are not accurate.  In a free society we can take things we don’t agree on and throw them back and forth.  In the process we can distill them to useful tools of understanding.

The thought that got me going was the phrase “God of history”.  I have heard it used to explain that God is involved in the every day events of today and the entire reach of the physical earth.  This is the idea of immanence.  God is not nature but He created and controls nature.  So when we look at where we are today as a nation and as individuals we need to realize that we come from a long chain of events.  Our values did not just appear one day.  They were molded over centuries.

Then we have people reminding us that “God is love”.  Yes, He is.  The Bible tells us that.  The problem with the use of the phrase is that many people using it have one of two problems.  First, they don’t know what Biblical love is.  One of the quotes that keeps surfacing in my mind comes from a brief moment in the presence of a soap opera.  In it the heart throbs getting married promised to stay together “as long as we both shall love.”  This is Hollywood stuff.  It is the concept of love based on physical lust and eye candy.  It means they could break up the next day if they wanted to, or even that evening.  People who use this phrase need a long study of I Corinthians 13.

Second, they think they are gods.  This goes back to Eve in the Garden. I t is alive and well today.  We see it in new born babies who think the world revolves around them.  Many people never move beyond that.  It is the reasoning of the current accusations of racism and white privilege.  It is identity politics.  It is the idea that the individual doing the speaking is above everyone else.

How about the call to redistribute wealth?  It sounds good if you are someone who has never saved a dime and have a college major in communications of something followed by the word “studies”.  It is reasonably certain that you never took a class in economics from someone who could balance a checkbook.  As I am sure I have said before, if you took the wealth of the world and divided it up evenly between all the people in the world, within a short time it would all be back where it started because most people who have no wealth don’t know how to make wise decisions about wealth.

A second problem with redistributing wealth would be that civilization would cease.  Since no one would see the need to go to work, production would stop.  Why work if the lazy will simply take your rewards away from you.  The well stocked shelves at your local store would become empty in a few hours, and since no one was working to restock them, would remain empty even if the storerooms were full.  It would not take long for the entire supply chain to fall apart and Conan would emerge to created the power of the sword.  Of course the food worth stealing would soon be eaten also.  Think about how much wealth it takes to totally stock a hardware store.  We wont even have anyone willing to work to unload the boatload of nails from China.

Have you ever heard someone claim that the main stream media is not biased?  I think we have come to the place where they don’t claim it any more but it was amusing when it was parroted.  The absurdity of the claim is the denial that everyone is biased but most of us are aware of it.  I know my grandchildren are the best in the world.  I also know the reason they are at that pinnacle is, in addition to being true, because they are mine.  I have no violent feelings emerging from my heart when you make the same claim.  I am sympathetic to your ignorance.  When we talk about the news we need to also remember there is a big difference between being biased and lying through your teeth.

I am sure I could come up with more but I will save that for another day.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-176: What a Difference…

I remember a song that went,

What a difference a day makes,
Twenty four little hours.

Think of the difference between the disciples on Saturday and how they should have felt on Sunday.  It took them a bit of time to really accept the resurrection and it did not take hold until Pentecost, but what a difference it made.

We are in the midst of that Saturday.  Good Friday was the crucifixion.  Sunday was the Resurrection.  We are remembering that never-never land of gloom and doom. But we have the benefit of hindsight.

What a difference two thousand years makes.  We know about the resurrection.  We know about the victory over death that represents.  Now all we have to worry about are taxes.  We are no longer in the upper room.  But too often we act like we are still there.

We may be forced back to that if we don’t wake up and trim the roses.  We are allowing our culture to push us out of the public square.  We are submitting to the silencing of the Marxists.  We forget that the victory is already ours.

So spend some time thinking about what it cost God to provide deliverance.  Think about the price Jesus paid.  He did not die for us to put our light under a bushel.  As we move toward a reminder of the empty grave be looking for a chance to share the hope that is in you.  If you don’t have that hope then ask yourself, “Why not?”

Homo unius libri 

Opus 2026-175: Symbolism over Reality

As I was listening to the mix of music I have on my MP3 player, it came across a song that was based on the idea of a land of unclouded days.  I’ve noticed this idea before.  I wonder what the concept is.  The first time it really hit me was when we were singing a song about how glorious it would be as Jesus returned, and there would be no clouds in the sky and all that, but it didn’t quite jive with the scripture I just been reading. 

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;

The scripture says that Jesus will return on the clouds are in the clouds. 

(1Th 4:17 KJV)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(Mat 24:30 KJV)  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

It doesn’t mention clear skies. Where do we get this picture?  I don’t know but I am willing to sing the song under the category of poetic license.  

I wonder how many other symbolic images are in our mind that have nothing to do with the scripture or in fact are contra scripture.  We often hear about the images of Christmas and the horse that Paul fell off of on the way to Damascus.  Did you ever wonder if the early church used pews or individual seats?  How about folding chairs?

There is nothing wrong with warm hearted ideas but make sure that you don’t confuse them with reality.  Our heretical pseudo-brethren get it the opposite.  They take clear statements of reality such as the physical resurrection of Christ and warp it into some kind of symbolic response to a bad pizza.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-174: On the Street: Reflections of Driving Style

I wonder how a person’s personality is revealed in their driving style.

I know that usually what we are experiencing at the moment stands out to us as being unusual.  Having said that, it seems to me that quite frequently when people are very quick to pull out in front of me as I’m driving down the road they end up being afraid to drive the speed limit once they’re in place.  I know you’ve had the experience.  You’re driving along in a 55 mile an hour zone, the road is clear in front of you.  A car pulls up to the cross street.  Instead of waiting for you to go by even though there’s no one behind you, they will immediately pull out in front of you as if they’re in a hurry to get to the hospital.  You jam on your brakes.  You slow down.  You watch to see if they will accelerate so you can keep moving, but alas and lack, they don’t seem to realize it’s a 55 mile an hour zone.  So they cruise along at 45 maybe 50 if they’re in a good mood.

Now I wonder if there is a sense of arrogance and self-centeredness, which is at work here or it just that they are day dreaming.  They’re very willing to pull out in front of you because they seem to think they’re more important than you are.  Then they’re very willing to drive very slow because that’s the speed they want to drive that and they wouldn’t care less if there’s anybody behind them.  Does this reflect itself in their personal relationships?

I wonder if these are the people who take up two parking spaces so their car doesn’t get scratched.  I wonder if they’re the ones who idle blocking traffic in the parking lot waiting for someone to come out and get in their car and move it so that they don’t have to walk very far.  I wonder if they are the ones who pull up in front of the entrance to the grocery store and sit there idling until someone eventually comes out.  Or extend that to the airport where they stopped in the Loading Zone Only and wait for the person to get off the plane and come out.  They could be the one who takes a full shopping cart into the 10 items or less aisle at the grocery store.  There are many applications in this personality type.

They might be the nicest person you ever met, I have no way of knowing.  Or they could be one of the most self-centered people that you’ve ever experienced.  Maybe we need a scientific study for this.  Anybody want to write a grant? 

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-173: Click Bait: Three to One

The title of the unwatched video had to do with the fact that Arminius disagreed with Augustine, Calvin and Luther.  In further ground breaking news we learn that the Pacific Ocean is west of the United States.  A better response might be, “Well, duh.”

I am going to guess that the sponsor of the video was going to claim that anyone who disagreed with those three theological giants was obviously at best misinformed.  At worse such a person would be a servant of Satan.

What I would want people to take away from this announcement is that the principal Reformation theologians were in agreement with one of the founding saints of the Roman Catholic Church.  In my reading this year I have had that pointed out several times, usually by people with an Arminian slant.  It was not offered as a recommendation for their ideas.

If you are a five point Calvinist then it might surprise you that much of your theology comes from a Catholic theologian.  If you are any type of Christian it might be interesting to realize that Augustine was out of step with much of the teaching of the earlier church fathers.  One synopsis of Augustine and the Reformers was that the difference was not so much theological as political.

My journey is a voyage down the road of comparing all that I have been taught over the years with what the Bible actually says.  I have some solid foundations.  I also have some strong bastions of nonsense that need to be overcome.  We need to be careful of theological jargon that is not straight out of scripture.  Some is necessary, like the concept of the trinity.  Others are questionable such as the five Solas.

Keep in mind that when you stand before God your pastor or favorite author will not be there as your advocate. Jesus has that role.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-172: Quite an Accomplishment

I sometimes wonder if we can make God weary.  I understand that God is omnipotent, and that the thought of us wearing Him down is rather ridiculous, but at the same time, I wonder if there isn’t a bit of peevishness or frustration the creeps in at times.  What brought this to mind was some of the prayer request that we are constantly sending up to Him.  I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but most of the prayer requests that are brought up have to do with the illness of people who are not part of the congregation.  We hear about cousins and friends and distant relatives that are going through really difficult times . Our heart goes out to them.  We put them on our prayer list.  And we pray for them.

Which brings up that eternal question, “Don’t you think God already knows about this?”

On Wednesday nights we are working through Jeremiah.  We started months ago and that caused me to read through the book plus some of the other prophets.  One of the things that comes through repeatedly is the incredible patience that God has towards people who think they are in the inner circle.  He is continually calling on Israel to repent, and with some basic guidelines.  He offers to forgive.  He offers to restore.  He bends over backwards for a bunch of unworthy and ungrateful semi pagans.  

I’m not sure which would be more frustrating. Our prayer request or our disobedience.

When given a chance I will ask about the spiritual condition of the person.  Sometimes there is no knowledge.  It troubles me that it doesn’t seem to be the concern.  What is the gain if someone is cured of cancer and continues in disobedience?  I guess it gives them another chance to repent but the destination has not been changed by a healthy scan.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-171: Wildflower Watch: Or Not

Our first few years in Texas seemed to show that there was an established pattern to the appearance of different wildflowers.  It seemed to start with blue bonnets and much later you would have the indian paint brush.  That pattern is totally a fantasy this year.  We have both of them coming up at the same time but in very limited numbers.

The blue bonnets are looking pathetic.  They are few and have lots of breathing room.  They also are much shorter than in years past.  I imagine people would blame in on the drought conditions.

There are also milkweed blooming which I thought happened almost last.

There are also some generic yellow, white and purple patches but they tend to be background for the rest of the blooms.  They may be the main act this year.

homo unius libri