Overcoming the mountain of "the Black dog"

Winston Churchill describes the depression that he experienced calling it by the name “the black dog”. Charles Swindoll writing about this Psalm referred to the experience David had as what his father had called being “under the pile”. Some refer to it as interpreting life “seeing blue”. Sometimes when we experience long-term stress it gets to us.

At a time like this, it is no time to study the book of Job, look at dark things or even difficult questions. Sometimes we still have to bugger on. Churchill could not postpone WW2. Abraham Lincoln suffering depression had to carry on to save the union. And here in Psalm 13, David had to find hope to carry-on in a 12-year struggle of survival against the threat of death by Saul. 

Long-term stress can take its toll.

How do we get through it?

Psalm 13 just being six verses (see picture) can be very helpful. Psalm 13 we described as a lament Psalm. This type of psalm fits well with the picture of a mountain. At the base of a mountain is the emotional outcry of feelings we find hard to express. It is good that we have someone we can actually share these things with. Because I see people in the Bible expressing them to God is a great encouragement. God is someone we can always share our feelings. We cannot always act our feelings where they would be harmful to us or to others, we can share them with God. Look carefully at the "how longs" in verses one and two. 

Ps. 13 Overcoming "the Black Dog"

From our perspective, we may feel these things but eventually, we're going to have to confront them. Does God forget us? Does he hide his face from us? Note verse two painful thinking comes from within ourselves. Our state of mind is not how God sees things. 12 years David has been harassed by King Saul to the point of death. That is a very long time but soon David will not only survive but triumph over his enemies. Hard to see that in the struggle.

We discover in these lament Psalms a point where the difficult feelings turn to prayer and off for a rational prayer request. We saw that in verse three. David wants light=life to be restored in his life. He needs God to heal him. (Psalm 23:3)

In verse five we see the next necessary step in the healing process as we focus on God's faithful love and deliverance (for David from Saul) for us the mountain of "the black dog." Confronting the lies of depression always begins with some truth that contradicts the depression. Hope begins to grow. 

As their depression lifts, we see the mountain of the black dog thrown into the sea. If you look at Mark 11:22 the mountain Jesus was referring to was the Mount of Olives. Now you can stand in front of that mountain with the loudspeaker and you will never see the mountain thrown into the sea. We know the mountain will be there until Jesus comes back. The mountain that Jesus is referring to is the significant obstacle that we face that causes us to cry out with strong emotional language. 

Finally, as we look back we see how Lord was with us. Note David saw God’s care as being very generous. Whatever the mountain we face it is good to know that God wants us to experience life being blessed. Looking back how did we get through it? We see the Lord as being there.

We all suffer loss and face disappointments, God wants to hear us. We start at the base of the mountain as we begin our climb to prayer, faith through the darkness to life. Keep walking

Learning from tragety and a funeral

I was reading a counselor who was instructed what to say and what not to say at a funeral of a tragedy. I created a note highlighted below in blue as a response. I think it is easy to say the wrong thing at a funeral. We may know the survivor or maybe we know the deceased. We may or may not know both of them. 

With each of us, there is our first funeral. I know many people who never going to funerals. My first funeral was at age 16 when a childhood friend had died with two others in a car accident. More and more people are getting cremated. More and more people are not connected to a church. Many people do not even like to talk about death. Many children are not encouraged to go funerals. Family seeking to protect the children also keep children ignorant about death and loss. For many adolescents,  funerals are first attended at the death of the schoolmate killed in an accident or suicide. With little experience and knowledge, they have to encounter death so tragic we are all wresting for understanding.

Nobody is encouraged to read the Scriptures and learn from the Lord about these things and there we are grasping at the wind.

The counselor went on to encourage the reader not to say anything to offend, but in essence really not saying anything except I am here for you. Which in itself is a good thing to say at a funeral especially if it's true?

This is what the counselor said 

What NOT to say:

• “I know how you feel.”
• “I understand.”
• “I’ve been there.”
• “This reminds me of when I… (your personal experience of tragedy).”
• “I’m sure God has a reason for this.”
• “I know that (the person who is gone, hurt, etc.) is in a better place now.”

I suppose each line there can be anger - do you!

Here is my response in part not to be said at a funeral. Loss and death are big issues. I quote ancient wisdom that should force us to battle this in our brains. Each funeral should teach us something and give us wisdom regarding our own death. Only in God can our spirits rise to heaven upon death. We need God.

(I get it, to listen. But to not say anything may not be of the Spirit either. We are to grieve with those who grieve. We too may be experiencing the pain of the loss. There are words of comfort. We live in an age that encourages ignorance and non-offense. We refuse to learn at funerals. 

Consider Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

2 It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter because sober reflection is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

Also Ecclesiastes 8:17 “NET© then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.” 

We are to wrestle with these things not avoid them. The Bible reveals more and our loss should drive us to seek God’s wisdom.

Instead, we cremate and are quickly encouraged to move on. Many now avoid the experience altogether. Ignorant, not learning, we ignore our own death and refuse to come to the Lord. Reeves) Keep walking

Like most crime novels we vicariously enjoy the world of the rich and famous. Life is full of puzzles to solve or not

Sitting at pool site in Naples,
Florida. Looking out waterway
to the Gulf

It is said, you can't take it with you. This was my first trip to Naples, Florida other than a prior pass-throughs on the way to the everglades. Stayed at a Charter club in Old Naples. Affluence everywhere. Water, tropical and money. We all seem to love it.
Looking at the homes of the rich and famous tell interesting stories. Many of the homes are not even lived in but for a few weeks a year. One home bought a neighbor's home, for around 20 million, tore it down and uses the land for a dog park for their dog.
Tom Selleck built a home designed like the one used in Magnum PI. He never lived there. Politicians from both parties live there and the who's who from business, writers, famous from all walks of life.
Where I was located is near the city's dock where boats are entered. Took a sunset cruise and had the view these homes have every night. That day had rained all day but the evening the skies cleared had we a had a great sunset.
Vicariously I think we all enjoyed being in the world of the rich. Our novels, movies,

A floating mushroom

media place our imaginations with the rich and powerful. No matter your political view we strive to be on top. One of the themes of the wisdom books of the Bible deals with our relationship with money and power. It can be a blessing or a curse. Wealth can benefit many or oppress many. Reading the ancient writings helps us gain insight
"For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave." Ps. 49:17
Along with the homes of Port Royal, the home valued at millions will be torn down upon the sale or death of the owner only to be rebuilt for bigger homes or even a dog park for an owner's dog to do his business. One owner needed 8 more inches in a room for a statue he bought traveling to Italy. He tore down the mansion and rebuilt the same mansion only the room was given 8 more inches. I have many friends travel to Italy and take in the sights (we all like to be affluent) and wish they could buy art, products but don't have enough room to fly it back. Unless they are a hoarder there is no room in the house. 
The problems of wealth and poverty will always be with us and it is good to read, study, meditate, apply what we learn in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon throughout our life. Not that we figure it all out, which is impossible, but that we grow in skills with our relationship to God and others.

Out on the Gulf- Can you see the curve of the earth? God's paintbrush

Consider the blessings of wealth enjoyed or not.
Ecc 5:19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.
Ecc 6:2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor –instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.
In my devotions the other night I came across curious verses, 
"Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?" ESV "It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings." NET 
I know we are all sinners and we all sin, but thankfully we did not sin to our deaths. We learned from our past sins to a wiser life. I also know we can never reach perfection in this life, nor solve every life riddle we encounter. No, it is good to enjoy a sunset, enjoy the blessings God gives and learn from our trials to trust the One who can take us to heaven. Politics, power, money, poverty are always in conflict. How are we living, loving, sharing and caring? We have enough to deal with ourselves. Keep walking

Helping the little grey cells spiritually. Online support - cool

One of the challenges we face as we get older is continuing our own growth spiritually. I have been personally talking to friends fighting burn out and are depressed. As they share their stories it helps me in my own life to focus on activities that build up and encourage the mind and spirit.
It seems my interests are many but new studies through the net have really encouraged me. Listed below are 6 sites with excellent resources for continual growth.
For my friends they have their work cut out for them.
https://www.biblicaltraining.org
I am taking a graduate class on Proverbs that is really stimulating my mind and spirit. Many of these teachers have different theological prospectives than I do, but the desire to know the truth of it makes it worthwhile. Good stuff
http://bible.org is a Cadillac of Bible study. The Lumina study tool is outstanding. Follow the menu and there is a lot to experience and learn.
https://www.biblegateway.com tops
https://www.studylight.org I have used this site for years. With many of these sites, you will find interactive material with great library support.
https://waynestiles.com/livethebible/ I do a lot of internet travel with Wayne to the Holylands. I am doing a study with the podcasts in the Gospel of Mark. A very good study.

Below is a blog entry on Biblegateway. It gives you reading levels of various popular translations.

Two levels are given for example. I worked 15+ years helping kids improve their reading. A Big thanks to Nancy, Dee, Marci who helped this ole boy learn how to help the kids.
KJV 12+ - 17+ which means it was written at 12th grade+ reading level and is best understood at a graduate level after 4 years of college. Many people through the years through vocabulary acquired have learned to understand this Bible at a lower reading level but it takes work. It can be a great Bible to work the little grey cells as we age. Much like studying a foreign language.
My favorite Bible NASB 1964 11th+ and understood with a senior college 16+. It definitely helped raise my reading level. After reading the NASB the KJV was a breeze.

My new favorite translations for study and reading pleasure the NIV, NET, NKJV, HCSB are at 7+ level and best understood at a 12+ (senior in HS) reading level. These translations are easy to read as you grow in vocabulary understanding. Not everybody agrees with the writer including me. Working with HS students generally finding books that are 2 years below their own lexile level they could read well for comprehension and understanding. So I would say NIV 7+, 9+ and so on.
Newspapers tend to be a 5+ understood best at 7+-10+ reading levels.
What happens if one has a lower lexile level than the Bible translation? Over time low readers may have higher listening skills and audio Bibles are wonderful. People can gain experience and growth in vocabulary acquisition. With greater recognition comes understanding. It takes work and learning coping skills such as listening, The Bible acted out. Preaching and explaining the meaning in language and experience people understand. Why Bible art in churches? Was this a way to help lower readers understand? A picture is a thousand words. We can never underestimate people who are often smarter than you might think. Of course, there is the other side of it where people have college degrees and are dumber than rocks.
Of course, there is God Himself interacting with the reader revealing His truth to the simplest of saints. How do you measure that? Keep walking

bible-translation-reading-levels

Morning thoughts faith I press on look forward to seeing in Heaven

Spring is soon come. March coming in like a lion did not disappoint. At the moment it is 0º F. Looking out my window it looks like a bright sunny day. Late last night on my indoor recumbent I had a decent workout. The bike with internet workouts help me workout aerobically with either trail or spin class interaction. One day I bike hard than the next day biking the pace of a walk letting my muscles work out with a stretch routine.
My workout tubes are nearby as I will do 1 or two circuits today. Squats, dips, heal raises, sit-ups, lunges give me needed strength.
In the back of my mind I recall the 106 year old Frenchman who bike one to two hours day.  In his case takes a strength program to improve his biking speed. Walking with CP has its challenges. My body fights more these days. With uncertainty I love my cane, travel seat, and scooter for shopping. Falls remain top on my list to prevent.
Routine stuff, "Are you getting sleepy?" I find myself more in a "do it yourself" mindset. Cleaning, chores, helping to unload, use the stairs, move more, pick things up using whatever to keep my balance, just do it. I am a professional manipulator. Most handicap people are.
My quiet time with our daily bread encouraged helping others. Have a mind to do so would be my goal today. One thing I can do is pray for others. I know of people who rather I didn't pray for them, so I do so without telling them. There are far too many I do not know how to pray for them so I trust God to meet their unspoken and unknowable needs on my part not His, for He knows all things. I have a friend who recently loss her battle to cancer. In a call a few months before she passed she never let me know her burdens. For whatever her reason she did not share her burden. I know we will meet again as I go to the Lord in death or in the air at the rapture. The older I get I see death's doorway more likely. His coming has always been in the Father's timetable not ours.

In a growing unbelief today, prayer matters. Simple trust, say it once, leave it at God's feet. Many times our care moves us to repeat the prayer, make it meaniful not ritual. If you are cluttered with it, know that God knows your heart and the need. Prayer is linked to cares of this world but also to the hopes of the next.
I will have CP all the days of my life, so a stretch, workout, bike, swim when I can to fight the tightness CP brings each day, to get more out of this life even as I age. But I also have this hope of heaven where my walk for the first time is easier. You won't see the scissor gate, a shorter weak leg, lack of balance and whatever the condition is here below. Both here by faith and in heaven by sight are very important to a healthy faith. Praying for one another can often lead to actions to help meet those needs. Despite our cynical unbelieving world we need more prayers. Keep walking

Pain is a tough door to walk through.

AARP writer Patrick Kiger reported in July Chronic Pain Afflicts Most older Adults in a Harris poll survey Of 2,011 adults. 20% of those age 55-64 and 25% of those 65 and older have given up on were compelled to give up some activity they loved to do because of pain. 57% of those 55-64 deal with chronic pain and 64% of those 65 and older deal with chronic pain. 85% and 88% of each group find some way to deal with pain.
Giving up activities I think come as we age. Some activities would be more friendly as we age. Rugby, boxing, American football would have an earlier retirement from the sport. Workouts once did may stay with us a little longer. I think activities can be replaced or modified. Pain though is a reality. Moving forward changes have to part of the strategy.
We try medicine, physical therapy, chiropractics, yoga. The 20-25% of older people who give up probably have tried these things and pain remains. That can be discouraging. For others these strategies help us continue.
Today I did what my heart doctor wants me to do more often. Watch TV and just bike. There is a

Au. 26 week

benefit of getting distracted, before you know it you have moved past your daily goal.
This week I took a few days off. My bruising got a little worse. I am still bleeding in my joint. Inflammation improved, back on the bike. Each time it took time before pain eased as I warmed up and fluid moving into the joints. Easier levels but choosing to engage in an increased pace.
Strength training minutes were added during the week. Toward the end of the week I did more short walks.
Pain is real and it does affect us. I think of my grandson with a disability walking through doors and increasing his experience and success. This lovely fellow gives me motivation to move through my doors. I have never have been as sweet as him, but I remember many of the doors I had to walk through or at times fight. Have you ever fought a fight you knew you would lose? The fight has to happen and if you can make it painful enough for the winner, would be less likely to do it again. My application was facing bullies who liked to attack crippled kids. I always surprised these bums. There is a fear to it though.

When I came to faith in Jesus as my Savior, I liked the thought
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Ps. 23:4 Death carries a bigger shadow then the bullies I faced as a kid. Pain is part of this shadow. The rod and staff are part of the same truth of God's protection.
For years I was taught how God uses these tools "rod and staff" in discipline. But over time I rethought the verse. Evil desires to destroy us, those tools fights off thugs, robbers and murderers seeking to harm or kill. We certainly need still waters and pastors for restoration and healing. How ever we have pain we can use, medicine, therapy, good food, exercise that makes sense for us. We can walk through the doors we are afraid of. In the big picture we need the Lord to be with us. Keep walking.

A life well lived, Billy Graham, he touched my life

Billy Graham 1918-2018

Imagine living 99 years and surviving 70+ years in public life with purpose, character and reputation still in tack, just about unheard of today. We tear down people faster than Ford can push cars off the assembly. Yet a life well lived is a Billy Graham.
Born the year WWI ended and the flu epidemic killed more people then any plague of the middle ages. The model T, the depression, WWII, radio, TV, the atomic age, civil rights, presidents, world-wide impact of a preacher who learned his trade literally in cow pastors. He knew people who lived through our civil war.
He made a difference in millions of lives throughout the world. Using sports stadiums, TV, books and movies he communicated the gospel in our post World War II world. He helped people in the church and outside the church know the importance of Christ life in works and word reveal Him to be Savior and God: who died on the cross, was raised from the dead, appeared to over 500 before ascending into heaven. This Jesus was Christ and Lord who died for the world for anyone who put their faith in Him as Savior and God would be forgiven, saved and given eternal life.
In Graham's words, "I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins." —Billy Graham
The good news was his purpose that he pretty much stayed on target all of his life.
I read a book, Nearing Home  he wrote at the age of 94 where he talked about aging and trusting God. The challenges of walking with God increase as we age and are quite different then when we are younger. Aging is not for the timid. He shared both his grief and hope with the loss of his Ruth. He looked forward to his death and being with Christ and those who had gone before. In the next 5 years his body was more restricted to elderly care, he still reached out to people on the internet. He had contact with world leaders including President Obama. He had the ministry of prayer and his children and grand-children ministered to him.
Billy Graham learned from his mistakes and like every believer we learn from our sins. He learned from President Eisenhower to keep his confidences with those on the world stage. He was disappointed in Nixon, but he still ministered to the fallen president. He fostered public accountability in ministry when many fell into the trap of fame and celebrity. His ministry became more global and supported care for the poor and downtrodden.
I admire his care of his family and helped his kids grow in Christ. As I age I understand how important faith developed in family is.

Aunt Anita (Reeves) Williams

When he pastored a church in Wheaton my Aunt Anita attended the church. My Aunt was born in 1923. Anita served in the US Navy in WWII. She would become a mother of 8 and quite a successful business woman. A pretty lady don't you think.
Billy Graham gave a message in 1966 that I listened to at the age of 14. I year or two earlier I watched The King of Kings staring Jeffery Hunter. In high school, a friend Judy Gwenda Cronk shared the gospel with me. When I was 19 on a visit to Michigan State a fellow shared the gospel and a tract as I was making my way to a party. Three weeks later doing my laundry in my grandmother's kitchen I took out the tract and it all came together for me as I trusted Christ as my Savior. That message Graham gave helped me at that time.
A message given in the 60's spoke to my mother and she trusted Christ. She told me about that in the 80's.
It has been my privilege to share the gospel on 4 continents. I regret in our culture the good news is restricted and censured in the work place and public discourse. There is an increasing darkness that has blinded way to many people. I think that is one of the reasons I like retirement, I can just be myself and share the most important truth to people today.
Read what Jesus said and did (35+ miracles) to reveal He is Savior and God who died for our sins that we might believe and have everlasting life.
Thanks Billy Graham for a life well lived.

There is always an opportunity to help those who need it. Give a real present, you helping one in need.

“For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:8

John 12:1-8 Context clues

Illness can be a time of loneliness
The sickness can bring dark feelings

• Act of worship, priceless
• One who managed the money of the disciples was already a thief. That person will never be able to care for the poor.
• Jesus personal time with the disciples was coming to an end.

Care of the poor is an ongoing project that changes all the time.

The lowest of the low, ones to be put on the Hitler  & Stalin list - I knew of a man mismanaged funds for personal use in a care facility of those who cannot care for themselves. Their disabilities are serious and multiple. They are poor to boot with a personal allowance of $40 a month from the state. The state provides shelter and care.  Imagine being a low life who steals from child-like minds or very difficult physical handicaps. Sorry for the curse word - “Damn”

Judas was stealing what was providing for the training of the disciples and the provisions of Jesus and the disciples as they went from village to village. Judas had the mind for admistration of funds, but he used his skills to steal for his own wants. There is no chance the poor will be cared for. No, what is usually the case is probably the opposite. Judas' objection for Mary's worship only reveals his corruption. 

The poor are always there and there will always be a need. The human condition is always changing. Once strong and self sustaining, a person can lose the ability to work, lose loved ones and be alone, sickness, lost of spouse, parent, long term poverty sets in.

The disciples had a limited budget. Isn’t that always true for most of us. Giving is always given by those closest to the poor themselves and may be the ones investing themselves. The most generous from my experience came from those who themselves were the working poor or close to being poor themselves.

“Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.” Proverbs 21:13

Caring for the weak, the poor, the sick, the disabled, those facing hardship lead to the development of spiritual fruit in character, kindness, gentleness, humility, being there for those in need as matter of habit. For the believer who shares to meet the needs in real and tangible ways. This Christmas or this year adapt a handicap home to give gifts at Christmas. Give gifts on their birthdays. Give a gift of yourself and visit these disabled adults, many who have lost their parents and are rarely visited. Give gifts that fit the person in mind, not just gift cards unless that card fits their desires. 

From the tales of mysteries, Craig Johnson ’s Walt Longmire visited the one legged sheriff once a week to play Chess and share a beer. Walter also gave jobs for the old sheriff and included the old buzzard in his family.

In my hospitalization last week it hit like a ton of bricks how it feels to be lonely and sick to boot. So this year I am going to be giving gifts of love, visits, to disabled I know. The needs are beyond my ability. At my family’s gathering this year as a family we are going to look for practical ways we as a family to give to known people of disability. With in our own family we are going to strengthen our family bonds to make sure we all are involved caring for those who will need lifetime support of friendship, A child with a disabily will one day be without the parents who cared for them. Uncles, Aunts, brothers, sisters cousisns are going to need to step up.

Similar ideas can be done for the poor, adopt a poor person to visit, help with what you can to bless them with shelter, love and care, protection. You will have your limits, but first be willing to put yourself in meeting known needs, friendship. You may have to plan how to best do this. You can’t do everything, but you can do something. Adopt a vet without family. Ideas are many. Your personal investment you dicide and challenge yourself. caring this way will had to your days and God has an ear for those who care for the poor. Keep walking

Today I'm craving around a virtual cave - Travel to Qumran

Today I will be taking a tour of the Qumran caves and the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

https://walkingthebiblelands.waynestiles.com/dashboard/

I've visited a website that will interact with the scroll itself. Cool

http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah#2:3

You can click on a particular chapter and verse and I will give you a translation of that verse. Note the translation is of the scroll itself which was a translation used by the Essenes group. Dr. Wayne Styles gives the following information of the group.

“At the northwest corner of the Dead Sea, a small community at Qumran meticulously copied the Hebrew Bible and other literature—from the 2nd century BC to around AD 68. These Essenes were zealous for God’s law, and they retreated to this secluded area in order to devote themselves to the study of the Hebrew Scriptures and other literature, as well as to the preservation of these texts.”

When this scroll was discovered in 1947 it was a Hebrew text 1000 years older then the text that we had. Its discovery has shown us how careful we are when it comes to the translation of the Bible. 

It was not the translation that Jesus learned from as a child in his synagogue. Nor was it the translation he used in his ministry. Jesus was familiar with the Septuagint, LXX which was a Greek translation from 200 BC, by the Jews in Alexandria, Egypt. Jesus spoke mostly in Aramaic. Today language is used on one Mountain in Israel with less than 600 people speaking it. Most of the youth in Israel today speak Arabic, Hebrew, or English. It has been predicted that the language of Jesus is dying out.

Here is an example from the 9 to 11th century Aramaic of John 3 :16

ܗܟܢܐ ܓܝܪ ܐܚܒ ܐܠܗܐ ܠܥܠܡܐ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܠܒܪܗ ܝܚܝܕܝܐ ܢܬܠ ܕܟܠ ܡܢ ܕܡܗܝܡܢ ܒܗ ܠܐ ܢܐܒܕ ܐܠܐ ܢܗܘܘܢ ܠܗ ܚܝܐ ܕܠܥܠܡ ܀

16 For, Alaha {God} has thus so loved the alma {the world}, in such a way that He would give His Only-Begotten, so that whoever might believe in Him, shouldn't be lost, but rather, may have for them lives which are eternal.

http://www.thearamaicscriptures.com/johns-gospel.html

 In the Hebrew Scriptures parts of Daniel and Ezra are Aramaic as well as parts of the New Testament.

Having a reliable translation is indeed a blessing. Read the books of the Bible one by one. If you have never read the Bible there are many good ideas to do so. If you want to find faith and walk with God read the gospel of Mark (action) and Paul’s letter to the Romans. Both books were written to the same city Rome. Romans 1-8 answers the question of how God makes sinners saints. Romans 9-11 gives information concerning God's future work with the Jews? Romans 12 to 16 shares how to practically walk with God as a saint.

Saints (Romans 1:7) are made by God when one believes in the good news of Jesus Christ. They are far from perfect and there is growth and development after one becomes a Christian. 

Each book you decided to read has its own theme and structure. For example the Gospels, the first four books in the New Testament are not the same. There will be differences which will and help understand the whole.

Mark off in your Bible the books that you have read. After you have read the Bible now you will have real questions and insights. You will be amazed. Keep walking

Walking today in Israel (virtual)

9 flights of stairs would be
good excersize today. 

Today I traveled with Wayne Styles to the site of Tel Megiddo, Israel. 

The virtual Tour went into the historical background of the location. 

And as we walked around he shared many of the things we were looking at. Megiddo was a Canaanite city from the time of Abraham through the time of King Josiah nearing the Babylonian captivity. Each time the city was destroyed it was built-up. You can see the Canaanite gates and the gates that Solomon built. There is a grain silo from the time of Jeroboam. 

From the time of Ahab, who you may of heard of his evil wife Jezebel, or read of the obsessive captain Ahab from the novel Moby Dick. In Megiddo he builds stables or storehouses and an underground tunnel to get to the water source in time of siege. If you went down to the tunnel and back out you would have to travel 183 steps up and down. Dividing up and down by two you have to walk 9 stories up. Of course walking 9 stories down would be easier.

From Megiddo you would have a good view of the Jezreel Valley. Here is location of the

Wayne walking up from the tunnel to water

final battle between good and evil before Jesus returns, Armageddon “the hill of Megiddo” from the book of Revelation. 

It has been over 40 years since I was there. The archaeologist shovel has unearth much more of the site. In modern times, the British defeated the Turks in 1918 at Megiddo. In 1799 Napoleon use the branch of the international highway between Egypt and Iraq much the same way as the ancient pharaohs move their armies. Our own times are you affected buy these ancient sites. 

Can we really believe Biblical prophecy of the end times? Most historical documentaries lean on skepticism. And yet the cycle of war seems to travel back to these locations. The crazy unrest in our world would seem to indicate Wars and rumors of wars will continue. The tour of Megiddo was 13 minutes of interest for me.  Wayne shares how the world influences you or you the world. Intellectual or moral compromise always confronts the believer. Seeing how God influences our lives is most challenging in the time of unbelief. Amidst the ruins gives us pause to this struggle. Keep walking.

Investment in health research will pay off

Steve Farrell PHD writing a post for Cooper Aerobic Institute informs us, “It’s no secret that cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in the U.S., accounting for approximately 275,000 deaths per year. This causes not only a tremendous physical and emotional toll, but also places a significant economic burden on society. Approximately $90 billion is spent each year on the direct costs of cancer such as medication, hospital, physician, and nursing services.”

Cancer no matter the gender is a big deal and the numbers tell us the impact cancer has on our lives. Without a doubt the impact is even greater when cancer hits us personally. 

Since the Fall, Genesis 3, sin and death has ruled over our lives. Work which became harder holds back some of the impact of the fall. For example, you build a home and you are sheltered from the storm. We have learned how to better insulate our homes and in turn that help us endure Extreme cold and heat. 

The investment in discovery of the things it kills us has more than doubled our lifespan. It wasn't easy, it was hard work, it was costly and here we are. There are many things unexplored regarding our health. We have a long way to go unraveling how to repair the brain. We have a long way to go in regard to cancer. Repairing and regenerating our bodies are in the infancy of development. Most things that kill us we have no cures. Our bodies are capable of overcoming things, but most things we put into remission rather than a cure. 

What do we gain when we help those who cannot help themselves? Whether we are looking at the elderly fighting dementia, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes it is good to remember that every one of us if we live long enough will be in the same fight. What we learn today will help us tomorrow. We have to be big minded in this way.

Pictured here is an older gentleman suffering from
loneliness. Is he forgotten? It takes work to care.

What did we learn about people with multiple disabilities that cannot earn a living themselves? These things are very costly but there is an amazing benefit that comes from caring for people who cannot care for themselves. 

We learn things and treating extreme conditions bring us unexpected consequences that just may help you in a bad time in your life. What is learned in the costly care of the disabled will lead to discoveries that will help us dealing with the disabilities of aging and disease?

There is a principle found in Matthew 26 that has guided me when I helped people who are either hard to help (an idiot) or have difficult disabilities that take a lot of work. Many of these people are sweethearts, but not all of them. I always kept in mind someone was watching and it did matter. It is easy to help beautiful healthy people. But it is quite another matter when you're helping someone who for whatever reason have no way to pay you back or even to say thanks. 

Was it worth it to help them? I will be honest with you I have debated this. The principle that Jesus gave has often turn the scales for me to help. I doubt many people knew my struggle or why I went ahead and helped. But here was one of the game changers for me: 

Jesus said, ’Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

It takes hard work to defeat cancer. It is very costly, but what was the alternative. Progress is being made, there is hope. Keep walking

God's love and care even when we can't perceive it.

On the net there is a lot of places where you can be encouraged. Today I am sharing a technique you can use praying to God. It is used to pray back the Scriptures. You take a scripture and personalize it as you pray back to God. Here we see an example of a Ephesians 5:8-10. Note to personal pronouns:

Dr. Ken Boa paraphrases “I was once darkness, but now I am light in the Lord.  May I walk as a child of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), learning what is pleasing to the Lord.”  (Ephesians 5:8-10)

Reading Wayne styles today, he shares truth centered on Romans 8:31-34

It is quite possible in our lifetime to experience people who did not approve of us. There have been those who are not on our side. What ever our experience contrast that with God's unconditional love and acceptance. When we acknowledge our need for a Savior it is always an uplifting experience.

If there is a chance we are living on the blue side, we may be seeing too much negative. It is always a good idea to challenge negative thinking. Theologically we should be able to see from Romans 8:31 to 34 that God is going to see us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. (Ps. 23) We live in a fallen world and bad things happen even to good people; but God is with us through these experiences. 

(I have thought about in our weakness and frailty. We may not be able to see the truth of God’s care.  People are cruel to each other and we may distort and bend things darkly. Then there are accidents, conditions and diseases that over take us. If we live long enough we are likely to effected by an aging brain. If you see me with a Sox hat or Cardinal hat you will know that dementia has got me. There is nothing wrong with these teams but if I am wearing their hats as my everyday hat, my brain has left the building.) 

There is a certainty that we are in God’s hand through death and heaven. This life is not without its blessings and as such  we challenge negative thinking of depression for it is not always true or absolute.

There may be some people against us; but if we rethink it we will find examples of people who are for us. We have experienced neglect; but if we look again we will notice them many people who took care on our behalf. We may be looking at somebody with the negative expression; but they at that moment may have gas. Our interpretation is always subject to our feelings. To be sure negative responses are real; but they are not always what they seem to be. An angry face my have just bit their tongue.

You can read many stories in the Bible of people who did horrid things. We can learn from them; but it is important not to personalize each and every one of them. Don't own up to every bad thing you read. It Is a good thing that we did not experience every bad thing. Taking our problems day to day is enough. Knowing that God loves us, forgives us, and is working in our life through the good and bad, He won't forsake us. These things are clearly seen in the Bible. 

Challenge negative thinking and remember our thinking may be distorted because of disease or abuse, the truth about God will see us through even that. Keep walking

Moving forward

If you follow my posts on Facebook, you may have noticed that I post articles by Wayne Stiles. In Wayne's ministry he has encouraged me with his insights on the Bible and the connection to the Holy Land. He also shares many practical truths related to the life we live today. His perspective is upbeat and insightful. In the link below, he takes us to a place a little off the beaten path as far as tours go. Here we find the location of Bethsaida. 

Jesus did a lot of miracles here and yet the people in this town rejected him. Three of the apostles come from this area. Wayne makes a point that we may have a past which is humble or a place where we experience failures. Those failures can have a way of defining you for a lot of years. On the other hand the Lord can use those failures and lead us to victories of a completely change life.

It is possible that the hometown doesn't see it. The changes may be seen by others, but in the hometown the ghost of the failures haunt us.

Sometimes for whatever reason people can hold the past against you and cannot move on. The catch is a lot of times it's relationships that are close to you. For the three apostles who lived in Bethsaida, they were able to move on.

I think sometimes we have to do the same thing. We cannot live in our past but we have to move on. Our relationship with the Lord is dynamic and personal and God is continually working in our lives.

The idea of borders in our lives is to limit negative people and experiences so that we can embrace healthy relationships and experiences. Our past may have taught us many things, such as sin teaching us the need for a Savior and learning from our errors a different way of going about something that is more beneficial, which is an aspect of practical holiness we need to embrace. We often think of holiness in a negative restrictive fashion; but holiness can be thought of as wholesome and beneficial. If you think of sins like murder, adultery, lying, stealing, coveting which leads to negative behaviors there has to be a better way to live. So we set up borders and move ahead embracing our life and potential without the negative shackles that may come from people who are small minded.

Certainly when you think of the apostles from Bethsaida they were young men who had the rest of their lives to live. The younger you apply this the better. If you're an old guy like me what you have in mind are the days, months, years that you have left. Grab a hold of this because each day is precious. Keep walking

http://www.waynestiles.com/bethsaida-god-past-pointless/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+waynestiles+%28Wayne+Stiles+Blog%29

https://holylandphotos.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/paul-in-the-city-where-did-they-eat/

Click the link for insight on common places people ate.

Sometimes it takes a little work to have joy

I posted earlier on Facebook as we get older, we need to re-examine our home to prevent falls. An ounce of prevention here could mean volumes in regard to your health. 

Two articles from the Chicago Tribune may help.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-fall-prevention-tips-health-1123-20161122-story.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-fall-prevention-health-1123-20161121-story.html

Politics rarely gives satisfaction. This is a specially true to diehards invested every day with hours of detailed study. “Vanity is vanity”

If negative emotions out of control are harmful to life? How can we move the dial a bit to the positive? Perpetual happiness or delirium may be unattainable, but having joy, experienced in our day I think is entirely possible. 

For my friends who are political junkies consider for a moment how the media plays with your emotions. I think it's similar to the local news drawing you to a dramatic soundbite that in December we may have a snowfall. Snowfalls brings challenges but they're not unusual. The same is true in political stories. Whatever you're sensitive to the media has you hooked. Somehow consider the phenomenon that you may be manipulated. Right or left it happens all of us. We have that in common.

Chuck Swindoll from Insight for living shares 7 ideas to improve the beneficial effects of joy.

http://www.crosswalkmail.com/ViewMessage.do?m=qdwmdvwdmw&r=ibmmhnvddvzm&s=cphjdqtljhjtmlngrzkvktqmprrmhctkddn&q=1480501513&a=view

Last week I was reading an article that shared a heart attack can happened when we work harder and carry along a negative emotion like anger. It seems work and anger are two stressors that don’t go together. 

Joy can occur in an outcome from a life trial or battle. We may not feel it when we are in the middle of it, but it will happen afterwards. Somehow God uses bad things for our ultimate benefit. 

Psychologists tell us the ultimate loss is our own lives. We experienced the fear of losing from the temporal things, pets, friends, family, spouse, to the ultimate personal loss of our own life. Can we say the bad things happen to good people?  Resoundingly yes. 

Okay I started this article with politics and then I moved on to the old ultimate bummer, death. As Fred Sanford would say, “I’m a coming Elizabeth!”

How can we develop joy? Psalms 103:2 “My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.”

Skyler Joy

In Swindell's article I like the idea of keeping a journal and putting peoples photographs in the Journal that give you joy. Don't put everybody there because some people are sourpuss’s. 

Surround yourself with happy people. Include music that helps you worship God. Over the years I've had many people tell me how much the songs that they learn when they were kids encourage them.

If you never learned to appreciate hymns, take time to hear them played well or sang well. Give yourself time to get an ear for it.

Each night come up with something that gave you joy. If you can’t think of something, you can laugh at yourself for becoming a grumpy old man or woman. Picture your favorite grumpy person. Something there will make you smile.

Go for a walk when is known to boost moods and take a deep breathe and enjoy it. Keep walking