Thoughts Before You Deem "Assembling Together" Unimportant in 2014

Thoughts Before You Deem

 "Assembling Together" Unimportant in 2014

Within 2014, we will all come to our resolutions because a New Year offers us a fresh start to do better than we did the year previous. Many will come to the realization that they have some bad habits that need to be changed and will "swear off" everything from alcohol to deserts. We will resolve to exercise more, eat less, make more money and many other such things. Many will resolve to read their bibles more, get more personal with God, etc. And there are a few who will deem themselves perfect and resolve they they don't have to change anything. In all the resolutions, have you considered Paul's statement in Ph'p. 2:3-4 “In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”?

Resolutions are often self centered. Yet, it is a fact that each one of us needs other people to look out for our interests, defend us, protect us, and help us stay on track. This is called accountability. Paul tells us that we should look out for each other’s interests, not just our own. In a society that is  all about "me" — my needs, my interests, my wants, and my ambitions, Paul teaches us to look out for others, too.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, we have become much more vigilant for each other as we are on the lookout for more terrorist attacks. But did you know you have an enemy far more destructive than any terrorist? A personal enemy who wants to defeat YOU personally. His name is Satan, and since recorded history he to bring problems into your life, ruin your relationships, and hurt you as badly as he can.  Why? Because he wants to hurt God, but he can’t, so he goes after God’s children. And how does he do that? The more he can make you think less of God, less often about God to the point of thinking badly about God then the more deluded he can make you (WARNING READ 2 Th.2:9-12)

On our own, we will never win against Satan. But when you God working for you, and  have other people to watch out for you and help you, you can be victorious, you can overcome!  Does anyone have your back? Is anyone defending you and watching out for your spiritual welfare? You need a community of people who are saying to you: “We’ll be with you when you’re going through the tough times. We’re not going to let you get discouraged or depressed.” Thus, Paul's encouragement in Heb.10:25, "Not giving up our meetings, as is the way of some, but keeping one another strong in faith; and all the more because you see the day coming near." Why do we not give up meeting? Because it is God’s answer to defeat. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” You can try, but you can’t live life well on your own, we weren't made that way.  We all need other people to walk with us, work with us, and watch out for us.

So, in your resolutions for 2014, don't forget to make coming to God's house a priority.

Jim

BOOK REVIEW: James: Faith Becomes Real by Carole Arceneaux

This book for me was a quick read. I have studied James many times and I downloaded it thinking that it would be a more in depth study than it was. This is not to say that it was not good. I found the thoughts presented practical, provoking and encouraging to read. If I were looking for a devotional to augment my faith or deepen my pursuit of faith, this would be the book. It would also be a good book to use as a family devotional for family study. It approaches some good topics dealing with the modern world as well as the past. Money and how I use it, patience and how to learn it, what to do about mouths, all very good thoughts and presentations. I just wish for my part that there was more of it to read. I found myself intrigued by the topics, but when wanting to pry into the depths of matters and dig out the essence of contexts and understandings I was disappointed. That however, is not the fault of the author.

I recommend the book to you for devotional study, or for personal quiet time study. This is where I believe the book hits home, in those moments when you don't want to spend a week considering something, but have a few moments just to ponder spiritual thought for the day. In this you won't be disappointed and it will be a good book for small group discussion and study.

Jim

Where is God?

In our last article, we noted that the Magi found Jesus because they sought Him. Signs were there, indications were there, scriptures were there, but only few have found Him because they sought Him. Even in Luke 2:25-33, Simeon who was seeking God's will for Israel at the time, was told that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. 

It does no good to celebrate Christmas, if we miss an important parallel of this story to our own hearts. Our hearts were intended by God to be His temple - His House. Unfortunately, we fill our lives with other things, inviting other ideas, interests, values, loves, and commitments.Our lives and minds are so full that we’re not even aware when God shows up. When things go awry, we shout "Where is God in all this?"  While God stands quietly beside us and we don't even see Him. God shows up in our lives all the time, providing opportunities we never thought we’d get, in the midst of problems we didn't know we were going to have. Even when Jesus was alive, this happened. Jesus would show up and talk to people who never realized who he was. In the book of John, Jesus was sitting by a well when a woman came up to him, looking for water. She didn't recognize Jesus. In fact she got in a religious debate with the Son of God! Then Jesus said, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water" (John 4:10). But she didn't recognize Jesus. And as you read these words, there are many people, perhaps even yourself going about your daily routines, wondering why God isn't speaking with you, visiting with you, or showing up in your life.  Yet no one notices Him standing right beside you, stating that He has been there all along. God is at work all around you — not just during holidays but throughout the whole year.

• Why do you think we miss God even when people seem more open to him than any other time?
• How have you seen God at work this week? or, have you even been looking?
• What change can you make in your routine that’ll help you see God more clearly?

My prayer for you, is that you will begin to see God more clearly in the coming year. 

Happy Holidays!       

Jim                   

BOOK REVIEW. the REAL House of God by H.Dele Davies

Wow...a must read!, December 21, 2013
By Jim Hartman "Jim"


This review is from: The Real House of God : Unleash the Full Power of God's Spirit Within You (Kindle Edition)
I have read and re-read this book and am amazed at its simplicity and truth. In the world of books of orthodoxy and tradition, this book cuts to the truth from old testament to new testament. Indeed, God does not dwell in houses made with human hands and this book does a wonderful job of making this point. From the inception the book starts in the beginning with God's original intent and show how this intent never changed. Even with Moses and the Tabernacle, the first Temple and the second. and then establishment of Jesus church. Since then, God's house has been made by man to become something it was never intended to be. Man has made the building, the "institution" God's house, when all along God meant for US to be God's house.

I heartily recommend this book and encourage all who do to pick up their Bibles and study it. you will not be disappointed to have this in your library.

posted from Bloggeroid

Where Is He?

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 

Mt.2:1,2

Always intriguing, is the account of the men referred to as Wise Men or Magi in the passage cited above. We do not know much about these men (IT DOES NOT SAY THERE WERE THREE OF THEM) but being listed as Magi (Magus), these were  philosophers, priests, or astronomers of the day. They lived chiefly in Persia and Arabia and were the learned men of the Eastern nations devoted to astronomy, religion, and to medicine. They were held in high esteem by the Persian court, were admitted as counselors, and followed the camps in war to give advice. Daniel the prophet was such a person in both the Babylonian and Persian Courts some 167 years before Jesus. If indeed they came from this region, then they traveled many miles from the Far East to the Middle East and at great expense to find Jesus.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which is just six miles from Jerusalem. At the time of Jesus’ birth, all kinds of spiritual activity was taking place in Jerusalem. All of the major religious leaders of the world were in Jerusalem, but none of them were seeking Jesus. Herod, self and Roman proclaimed "King of the Jews," wasn't even aware of Jesus until the Magi came.  Many others of noted prominence were there at the time Jesus was born, many traveling to their homelands for the taxation, yet none were aware of Jesus. No one even noticed "His star" except the Magi. Why? Because the Wise Men were looking for Jesus. They were willing to make a four to five-month trip across a hot desert to find Jesus. So noted was the event to them and the occurrence of the celestial dance, that they were willing to do whatever it took to find him and as the text states "worship Him."

Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl that is so valuable we will sell everything we have to get it (Mt.13:46). It seems the Wise Men from the East understood this long before Jesus ever spoke the parable. They were willing to give up everything they had to come and worship Jesus, who at the time of their arrival was only a toddler. They were willing to give up the comforts of their homes for a long, tough journey because they WANTED to worship him.

If these men thought it worthy of note, that even the heavens pointed to Jesus to come and find Him, then shouldn't we take note of this too? I find it interesting at how virtual strangers would give up so much to go find someone they didn't even know, because they knew He was "born King of the Jews."

What would you give up in order to come worship Jesus?  What holds you back from seeking  a relationship with Jesus so valuable that it’s worth giving up everything for?  Maybe it is time for you to start your journey.

Jim

The Sacred Journey - A Book Review

The Sacred Journey: Ancient Practices Series

by: Charles Foster

I found this to be an intriguing book, covering a diversity of topics yet, bringing you back to consider your own journey. Across cultures, religions, I found this book challenging as it switched topics and stories. Often, I would put it down, but then find myself drawn back to it again to read more. Each day became its own journey and each tale its own lesson, teaching us that life is just that way. Following God is not about a bunch of static rules, corporate maneuvering or theological entrenchment. It is about being practical with your faith and learning from what God brings to you every day. Two particularly interesting thoughts I found presented, were that each journey is its own pilgrimage and each pilgrimage has its own fellowship.

I heartily recommend this book to the reader. You will be the better for reading it, especially if you incorporate its concept into your walk with God.

Hasmonean Dynasty Building Found in Jerusalem

Discovery of City of David ruins fills gap in Jerusalem history

Megan Gannon LiveScience

Archaeologists have discovered the first ruins of a building from the Hasmonean period in Jerusalem, filling a gap in the ancient city's history, the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced.

Israeli Antiquities Authority

Archaeologists think construction on this ancient building started in the early second century B.C. and continued into the Hasmonean period.

The building's remains were uncovered during an extensive dig at the Givati Parking Lot, located in Jerusalem's oldest neighborhood, the City of David. Excavations over several years at the site have turned up some remarkable finds, including a building from the Second Temple period that may have belonged to Queen Helene, a trove of coins from the Byzantine period, and recently, a 1,700-year-old curse tablet in the ruins of a Roman mansion.

Despite extensive excavations in Jerusalem, IAA archaeologists Doron Ben Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets said there has been an absence of buildings from the Hasmonean period in the city's archaeological record. Simon Maccabeus founded the Hasmonean dynasty in 140 B.C. This group ruled Judea until 37 B.C., when Herod the Great came into power. [In Photos: The Controversial 'Tomb of Herod the Great']

"Apart from several remains of the city's fortifications that were discovered in different parts of Jerusalem, as well as pottery and other small finds, none of the Hasmonean city's buildings have been uncovered so far, and this discovery bridges a certain gap in Jerusalem's settlement sequence," excavators Doron Ben Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets said in a statement. "The Hasmonean city, which is well-known to us from the historical descriptions that appear in the works of Josephus, has suddenly acquired tangible expression."

Flavius Josephus recounted Jewish history and the Jewish revolt against the Romans in his first century A.D. books "The Jewish War" and "Antiquities of the Jews." Some archaeologists have used his texts to guide their work and interpretations. For example, excavators who recently found cooking pots and a lamp in an underground chamber in Jerusalem think these objects could be material evidence of Josephus' account of famine during the Roman siege of the city.

Despite extensive excavations in Jerusalem, IAA archaeologists Doron Ben Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets said there has been an absence of buildings from the Hasmonean period in the city's archaeological record. Simon Maccabeus founded the Hasmonean dynasty in 140 B.C. This group ruled Judea until 37 B.C., when Herod the Great came into power. [In Photos: The Controversial 'Tomb of Herod the Great']

"Apart from several remains of the city's fortifications that were discovered in different parts of Jerusalem, as well as pottery and other small finds, none of the Hasmonean city's buildings have been uncovered so far, and this discovery bridges a certain gap in Jerusalem's settlement sequence," excavators Doron Ben Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets said in a statement. "The Hasmonean city, which is well-known to us from the historical descriptions that appear in the works of Josephus, has suddenly acquired tangible expression."

Flavius Josephus recounted Jewish history and the Jewish revolt against the Romans in his first century A.D. books "The Jewish War" and "Antiquities of the Jews." Some archaeologists have used his texts to guide their work and interpretations. For example, excavators who recently found cooking pots and a lamp in an underground chamber in Jerusalem think these objects could be material evidence of Josephus' account of famine during the Roman siege of the city.

IAA officials said the Hasmonean building has come to light only in recent months, adding that the structure boasts quite impressive dimensions. It rises 13 feet (4 meters) and covers 688 square feet (64 square meters) with limestone walls more than 3 feet (1 m) thick.

Inside, the excavators found pottery and coins, the latter of which helped them determine the age of the building. IAA researchers think construction on the building began in the early second century B.C. and continued into the Hasmonean period, when the most significant changes were made inside the structure.ding has come to light only in recent months, adding that the structure boasts quite impressive dimensions. It rises 13 feet (4 meters) and covers 688 square feet (64 square meters) with limestone walls more than 3 feet (1 m) thick.

A Gracious Thing

"...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"

Php 4:6,7 

Gratitude. A simple word that conveys so much. It isn't easy to stop worrying about the everyday parts of our lives, but God tells us how in the next part of the verse: “pray about everything … thank him for all he has done.” Gratitude brings peace and when you start to worry, pray. This is simplistic. Yet, it is reiterated again by James "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.(Jas 1:2,3)."  It is hard to be grateful, when you feel abused, unappreciated, tread on, and otherwise downcast. The world closes in on you, and you want to just quit. 

God  wants us to ask him for what we need and want. More than 20 times in the New Testament, we’re told to “ask” him. But he wants us to ask with gratefulness. Thankful that God has preserved us, appreciative that He has delivered us, understanding that He is walking with us. The Bible urges us to be specific in our requests — and our praises. Instead of a simple “thank you for everything," he wants us to tell him what we’re grateful for. Thanking God in advance is a big step of faith. The Bible says that when we have the faith to thank God ahead of time, the more God works in our lives. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. He empowers and uses our thanksgiving as an instrument of power in our lives.

Gratitude and prayer help us to see that God is working even when evil seems to be prevailing. As David writes "I will praise you forever for what you have done, and I will put my hope in your name; for this is what is good in the presence of your faithful. (Psa.52:9)"  

We have a lyric in our songbooks in a song called "Follow Me." "But if by death to living they can Thy glory see, I'll take my cross and follow close to Thee." Perhaps evil has come upon me for God's glory? If I have striven to be godly and suffer as an evildoer, the Bible states "For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (1 Pet.1:20)." 

What are you grateful to God for? Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for those things — even before they happen.

Jim

A Lesson from Paul's Final Chapter

At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. (2 Tim.4:16)

In writing Timothy, Paul related to him his heart. Especially in 2 Timothy where we recognize that Paul is facing certain death by execution, this is most definitely seen. Its always nice to have someone to talk to in a time like that, especially when others were either too embarrassed to be seen with him, or were giving him the final cold shoulder.  He was absolutely by himself. Nobody stepped forward to say, "This is a good guy. He's alright.”  What is more evident in Paul's letter to Timothy, is that you don't hear Paul saying in return,  "Those jerks — after all I've done for them all these years!” Instead, he says, "May it not be counted against them.”  What can we learn from this final chapter in Paul's life?

In order to say this, just as Jesus did when He was on the cross, Paul had determined in advance he was not going to let himself become bitter. Because bitterness always makes things worse. Bitterness and loneliness go together because they become a cycle. You become lonely. Then you start feeling bad about it and have a pity party. Then you become bitter. Your bitterness makes you even lonelier, which makes you more bitter. Soon, you're a hardhearted, depressed person that nobody can get close to. And Nobody wants to be around a bitter person. Nobody wants to be around a cynic. Nobody wants to be around a person who is perpetually angry, rude, obnoxious or bitter.

When you find yourself feeling in these ways, we must learn to play down the incident and offer it to the Lord who will always listen to our hurts. Don't rehearse it over and over in your mind. If you do, it just gets bigger and bigger and out of control. It does no one, especially yourself any good to become resentful, because bitterness will eat you up. Simply do what God says to do, and let God handle the others who have to deal with what they are doing. God always notices when others don't. 

2 Tim 2:19  Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." 

Jim

Finances or God -Which Comes First?

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV)

This is poignant advice, especially since the theme of Isaiah 7-9 gave the same type of advice over 2700 years ago.  Wealth is not wrong, nor is the desire to save for retirement. Investing wisely is a biblical principle and the Proverbs have much to say about it. Yet, we should not allow ourselves to trust this more than God, or to become "a god" to us. In this, worry is a warning light. Every time you worry about your finances, it's a warning that you doubt that God loves you and will take care of you. We always get into trouble when we doubt God's love. Always. Jesus taught in Matt.6:33, “But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you."

Your bank account is not your security, no matter how big it gets and to put our hope in or to trust that it will always be there or always see me through is a false hope and distraction from God. This is what Paul was writing Timothy about in 1 Tim.6:17. The truth is, is that everything we have is God's and it all belongs to Him. We are simply stewards of what God has provided and need to learn wisely how to use what God has provided. But, we should not lose sight that it is God who gave it to us and without Him, we have nothing.

As long as you love anything more than God, that thing is going to be a source of anxiety. There was one thing meant for first place in your life, and it's not your family, your finances, your livelihood or whatever.  Anything you put first in your life and comes before God will create anxiety, because that thing can always be lost.  Put your hope in God, because he will assume responsibility for your needs if you'll trust him.

• Is there anything that you love more than God? 
• Is your answer obvious to everyone else by the way you live your life? What do they see you putting first in your life?
• What do you find yourself becoming anxious over?
• In times of economic recession or financial need, in what or whom do you put your hope?

Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Jim

Carchemish - Ferrell Jenkins Report

It is still exciting at Carchemish. I have been within sight of Carchemish once. The military installations were clearly visible on top of the tell. The tour operator handling my tour in Turkey a previous time advised me not to go to Carchemish (Karkamis) because it is “zero on the border” of Turkey and Syria.

Carchemish with a Turkish military base on top. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins 2007.

We were excited to learn that new excavations had begun at Carchemish. That was before the recent “uncivil war” in Syria. Now, two reports give a little glimpse into the archaeological work there.

The first report from the WorldBulletin reports:

What could be the largest discovered inscribed tablet (stele), dating to the reign of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II between 605-562 BC, has been discovered in the Turkish city of Karkamis on the military zone along the Turkey-Syria border.

Noting that the excavations sites are untroubled despite their proximity to the Syrian civil war, Dr. Nicola Marchetti said the Karkamis archeological museum is scheduled to open next year.

“Excavations are right on a military zone with 55 hectares in Turkey and 35 in Syria,” said Marchetti, the head of the Turkish and Italian excavation teams, at a press conference held in the Assembly Hall of the Metropolitan Municipality.

Excavations this year also unearthed a cuneiform tablet at the palace of Carchemish king Katuwa dating to 800 BC, as well as over 300 sculptures, a Luwian hieroglyphic inscription and a mosaic.

Read the full report here. I assume the work described in this report is somewhere other than the top of the high mound.

A report from ANSAmed used a few more words about the stele dating to the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

Marchetti is proudest of a stele, or commemorative slab, carved with the face of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, the conqueror of Karkemish. He destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of Salomon in 587 BC, and built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were the seventh wonder of the ancient world.

”It’s a beautiful, compact piece of limestone”, Marchetti enthuses of this unique, historic find.

This report may be read here. It continues to tell about some recent al-Qaeda activity near the border in Syria affected by the excavation.

While it’s an almost peaceful cohabitation, it is also true that the dig is within a Turkish military base. This offers the Italians a relative sense of safety – except on September 3, when al-Qaeda attacked the Syrian town of Jarabulus, eventually wresting it from the ”official” anti-Assad Free Syrian Army (FSA) insurgents. ”It was hell on earth. Bullets were flying everywhere”, says Marchetti, who teaches Near Eastern archeology at Bologna University.

”Luckily, archeologists dig holes. We dove in. We kept digging inside the deeper ones. The Turkish military kept telling us, stay down”. Calm was restored once the FSA fighters gave themselves up to the Turks in order to flee al-Qaeda. An armed truce has held since, allowing the Italian team to unearth new treasures.

Now we know why archaeologists dig trenches and holes.

I look forward to seeing that new archaeological museum at Karkamis. Karkamis is a small town of less than 5000 population.

posted from Bloggeroid

Hoarding? or Paying Forward?

“However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could finish spreading the Good News for all the nations to hear. I was snatched out of a lion's mouth.” (2 Tim. 4:17)

Too many times in striving to be a Christian, we find ourselves alienated from people in general because of the things that we see in the world that we do not want to be a part of. Lifestyles, habits, attitudes, etc. and things that are wrong are things that we are told to stay away from and not to be influenced by (2 Tm.2:15-21). But if we are not careful, we can find ourselves alienated from the very people we are trying to reach. We have to learn to stop building walls and start building bridges (2 Tm.2:24-26). Our striving to be holy should be seen as an example to others, not as something that makes others think that we are that "weird" person that's all "holier than thou." The loneliest person in the world is the guy who's self-centered and wrapped up in himself. God wired us to give our lives away, to help others, to think of others and not just ourselves. Start being a friend and being friendly. Quit focusing on yourself and emphasize others' needs.

There is a factor of fear in this, because in general people are afraid to be open and to be vulnerable. We're afraid to share how we really feel and risk a relationship because we might be rejected, and we know what that pain feels like. We often set ourselves up in a self-imposed prison of solitary confinement that is absolutely unnecessary.  When Paul was in prison and about to be executed, he said all his friends had left him, but God was with him. That gave him the strength to reach out to others and complete the work God had given him: “The Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear” (2 Tim 4:17).  There are thousands of people in the world who need your love. Re-channel it away from yourself and toward others. If you hold it in, it's going to dry up and wither away. You need to find a place you can use your talents and gifts to help other people.  The modern expression for this is "Pay It forward!"

• Who are the people around you who need your love today? 
• How can you share it with them?
•  Why is it sometimes easier to hold love in than give it away?

Jim

Capture Every Thought

“We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” 

2 Cor.10:5                   

The battle for sin always starts in the mind.  James 1:14 "Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him." Whatever you focus on pulls you.  If you focus on godly things, it’s going to pull you that direction. If you focus on the stuff that’s at the movies and in magazines, it’s going to pull you that direction. Whatever you focus on gets your attention. Whatever gets your attention and captivates it is going to get you. This is why encouragement to Godly thinking is such a key thing and why being around Godly people to encourage you to that end is essential (Heb.10:24,25).  Psalm 119:6 states, “Then I shall not be ashamed, when I have respect to all Your commandments."  Why? Because if you’re thinking about God’s truth, God's will, then you’re not thinking about the dumb stuff you could be doing.  

Did you know that in the Bible, not once are you told to resist temptation? We are told to resist the Devil, and that’s a whole different issue. But the key to overcoming temptation is not to push back. It’s to change your focus. Temptation always follows a predictable pattern: attention, arousal, and action. Your mind gets hooked, your mind kicks in, and then you act on it. So you don’t fight a temptation. You turn your mind to something else. “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Cor.10:5 ).  The thing is, we’re not very good at capturing every thought and turning it to Christ, because that takes lots of practice. You can’t always control your circumstances, and at times you can’t even control the way you feel. We can control what you think about. That’s always your choice. And if you change the way you think, it changes the way you feel, and ultimately change the way you act. 

What do you spend your time thinking about? Where does your mind wander when you’re not focused on something specific?

How do you train yourself so that it is more natural for you to focus on God’s Word instead of the things of this world?

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will  meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.  I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Ps.119:14-16

 Jim

We Need Each Other!

How serious are you about breaking free from the temptations and/or addictions in your life?

God has wired us to need each other to grow and this is why God saw fit to give us each other in his body because he knew that we would need each other to break free of habits and hang-ups and hurts.  For years we have heard sermons on Heb.10:25 to not abandon assembling ourselves together, but have you ever wondered why this passage is in the bible?  It's not there to "force" us to go to church or have us feel hell-bound if we miss a service. It is there because we need accountability in our life. The very thing that you want least (having to be around all them church people when I really want to be doing _____) s the very thing you need most. We need caring people who are willing to check up on you, and you need a group that supports you and encourages you to change.

Even the Wisdom scripture teaches us that  Eccl.4:9,10 "Two people are better than one because together they have a good reward for their hard work. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" You need somebody in your life to help you with the biggest habits in your life that you want to change, because you simply are not going to change them on your own. It is a myth and a lie that says you’re going to get to a point in your spiritual life where you’re not tempted. In fact, the more mature you become, the more Satan is going to put you on his “most wanted” list. We all know 1 Jn.1:9, "God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from what we've done wrong." The truth is, if we were more consistent in confessing our temptations then we wouldn't have to confess our sins. To do this there has to be an atmosphere of trust and a willingness to share. There is responsibility of the one who has admitted being tempted or having committed the wrong as well as on those who are made aware of those things.  Paul states, "Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted. Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings. (Gal.6:1,2)." 

What’s the fulfillment of Jesus' teachings? Love your neighbor as yourself (Mt.22:37-40). How do we love our neighbor as ourselves? By helping each other through temptation. By helping one another be consistent in the changes they are wanting to make. By helping each other break bad habits and start good habits. James 5:13-15, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the leaders of the church, and let them pray over him,  and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous one avails much."

Jim

Erastus Inscription - Ferrell Jenkins

http://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/the-erastus-inscription-at-corinth/

The Erastus inscription at Corinth

Posted on October 23, 2013 | 1 CommentEven though the relationship between the Apostle Paul and the Corinthians was always a strained one, we know the names of numerous saints at Corinth who were helpful to Paul in his ministry.Paul calls attention to a person named Erastus who was a “city treasurer.” He would be one of the few (“not many”) Christians who were among the socially elite at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:26). A person named Erastus is mentioned three times in the New Testament. Whether these are two or three different persons, or all the same person, I do not know. Here are the biblical references:“And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.” (Acts 19:22 ESV)“Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.” (Romans 16:23 ESV) [We understand that Romans was written from Corinth. The Greek term for "city treasurer" is oikonomos.]“Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.” (2 Timothy 4:20 ESV)It is of interest that during the 1929 archaeological excavation of the area near the theater (see here), a plaza was located that contained a stone inscription bearing the name of Erastus and indicating that he was a public official.Ferrell Jenkins points to the Erastus Inscription at Corinth.John McRay says the pavement in which this inscription was found dates to before A.D. 50. The letters are 7 inches high. The complete inscription reads:ERASTVS-PRO-AEDILIT[at]E S-P-StravitIn full: Erastus pro aedilitate sua pecunia stravit.The English translation of the inscription is, “Erastus in return for his aedileship laid (the pavement) at his own expense.” (Archaeology and the New Testament, 331).Originally the letters were filled with bronze, but most of that was removed long ago. The name ERASTVS is seen in the closeup below.The name Erastus in the inscription near the Corinth theater. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.For those who have interest in a more technical discussion of this inscription may find it in David W.J. Gill, “Erastus The Aedile.” Tyndale Bulletin 40.2 (1989): 298. Gill asks,Are we to identify the Erastus inscription with the Erastus of Romans? It needs to be pointed out that the evidence will not allow a certain identification or a certain rejection.We are not able to answer the question with certainty, but the possibility that this man was among the disciples at Corinth, and a friend of Paul, is intriguing.

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Forgive - Trust Can you?

Forgiveness.  When this subject is often spoken or talked about, it is done so under the banner of seeking God's forgiveness for our wrongs. Not wrong, but, it is not the complete subject.  Jesus taught in Mt.6:14, "If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." We must also seek forgiveness and learn to forgive others as well.

Forgiveness does not mean the instant restoration of trust though. Forgiveness is instant, but restoration of trust must be rebuilt over time. While related, the two are in different boats. Forgiveness is based on grace. Trust is built on works, actions, and behavior. A lot of people don’t want to forgive, because they think if they forgive people, then they've got to trust them again. No. That’s a whole different issue!  If people are in a relationship and their partners are dealing with substance abuse, infidelity, or whatever, they may ask, “Will you forgive me?”  Yes, you forgive them.  But to ask, “Can we go back to the way it was?” No, because what was done tore down the scaffold that enables that relationship to continue as it was. That scaffold must be rebuilt over time. 

Forgiveness and a restoration of a relationship are two different things. Forgiveness is only on your part, whether the other individual(s) respond or not, whether they ask for it or not, whether they even recognize they need it or not. Forgiveness is for your sake. Restoration of a relationship takes far more than forgiveness. It takes repentance, restitution and a rebuilding of a broken trust, and it often takes a much longer time.

In either of these, you have to learn how to leave it to God. Mainly because this is what God instructs us is the wise thing to do. Often though, it is because there are times when humans do not have it in themselves to do it.  God has to become the strength and focus through which it is done, because if it were up to us, we'd but, kill, maim, destroy and otherwise do something that is terribly wrong. Jesus taught,   "Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets.(Mt.7:12)."  Before being overbearingly judgmental, remember to put yourself in the other person's shoes and ask how you would like someone to treat you if you were in their place. The person seeking forgiveness, must first see that the opportunity for it can be sought from the one they have wronged, and that there is a chance that a relationship can be restored.

• Who do you need forgive?  Start today, before something evil consumes you.
• With whom do you need to restore a relationship?  Seek it today, because today is all that you may have.
• In what ways can someone rebuild trust with you?  Bring God into your heart and life, and let Him be seen in you. Then, the glory belongs to God and He is praised by your life.

Jim

What Path Are You On?

 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.  1 Jn. 5:13

The instinct of eternal life is woven into the fabric of man's soul. It is a quest that we have from the moment of birth and the divergent paths man takes to get there are beyond enumeration.  We have an innate desire to find God and to live forever buried deep within us, and while this is good, it also presents an opportunity for the evil one to throw confusion into the mix.  John gives us an indicator for knowing we are on the right path: "you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him" (1 John 2:29).  Practicing righteousness is not being "holier than thou!"  It is doing what is right because it is right, upstanding, morally right, good, uplifting and here it comes.......Godly!  When practice and behavior are not these, then I am not on the right path.  I can go to church, be a good citizen, a parent, part of the community, etc., but Satan knows that if he can get our practice to be something other than "righteous" then he has deceived us and laughs at what gullible "monkeys" we are. The scripture is certainly God's standard for us, however it is obvious none of us measures up to it. Even John himself said, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

When John spoke of "everyone who practices righteousness," he was thinking of our normal practice, of the dominant direction of our lives.Sometimes our obedience is marked more by desire than by performance. So we have to ask ourselves: 

• Is my life characterized by an earnest desire and a sincere effort to obey God in all that he commands? 
• What is my attitude toward God's law? Do I find it to be holy, just, and good? 
• Do I delight in God and His word within my soul? Is it my bread and does it quench my thirst, even though I  struggle with it sometimes? (See Romans 7:12,22-23.)

Accompanying our sincere desire to obey God will be a heightened sensitivity to our sin. This again is where we must be cautious, because sin scars and sears callousness within the soul. At times that callousness will cause us to not be affected by the calling of "what is right" to our hearts not to do what we are going to engage in. It causes us to lose our sense of the correct path. Often it's our increased awareness of sin that causes us to doubt our salvation or to give Satan an inroad into our minds to suggest that "a Christian wouldn't sin like you do." He wants unbelievers to be complacent about their sin. 

So turn the tables on Satan and your own internal doubts. Proverbs 8 tells us that wisdom calls to us from everywhere. To let go of our personal deceptions and illusions of right, and come back to the path that we KNOW is right.  

 For whosoever finds me shall find life and shall obtain the will of the LORD. But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those that hate me love death.

Prov.8:35,36

Jim

FATHER

It is interesting, that in the thousands of years covered in the Old Testament, God is called "Father" only seven times. They thought of Him as other kinds of things — creator, almighty one, etc. But they didn’t think of God as Father.  Jesus uses the expression more than 150 times to refer to God.  Father - a term of endearment, compassion, closeness, and Jesus teaches that when we approach God we should do so as "our Father (Mt.6:9)."

God is not the angry tyrant. cosmic cop, universal killjoy, or impersonal force. God is a person, not a power. God's desire has always been  to have a personal relationship with us, and he created you with the ability to have a relationship with Him. Jesus throughout the gospels shows us that the type of relationship that He had with His Father, is the same type of relationship that God wishes with us. To be One with Him, as Jesus was One.

Many kids, especially today have very little connection to their father. So why would they be expected to have a connection with their heavenly Father? It’s no wonder we don’t understand God!  We need to let go of the misconceptions and myths we have about God so we can understand the truth of what the Father is really like.  Misconceptions keep you disconnected from God. Jesus said to Pilate, " To this end I was born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. (Jn.18:37)."  Jesus came to show us the way to the Father (Jn.14:6), how to love God and in turn for God to love us!  But when you really know him, you’re going to love Him because the truth will set you free!

What about you? Do you think and interact with God as your Father? The reason why many people never connect with God is because they unconsciously think God is like their earthly father, who may have been unreasonable, mean spirited, a drunk. or something else, so they think God in these ways. We impose all those mixed up hurts and emotions onto God, and it’s no wonder we have a hard time connecting with him. Jesus states in Jn.14:9,  "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." He showed us God's love, His desire for our salvation, His desire to want to be One with us, His compassion. So the more you know Jesus, the closer you know Jesus, the more you know and closer you become to God.

Rev.21:6,7  "And He said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely. He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son."

Jim

Where Is God Fitting Into Your Picture?

" Why do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.  For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."  So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. "

Rom.14:10-12

Have you ever noticed in the scripture, how much emphasis there is on doing for others? One of the first commandments given to Israel outside of Loving God, is to love your neighbor as  yourself.  This is because God wants us to take the love that we have for him, and communicate that love in our lives to others. In other words, to take our minds off of self centered living. This begs the question, how much time am I spending on what I want versus what God wants?  Then, answer that question in light of Rom.14:12, "Each of us will have to give a personal account to God."  

One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others. Think about the implications of this. There will come a day when God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others and serving Him.  Mt.25:40 reminds us, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." At that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: "I was too busy," or "I had my own goals," or "I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for retirement."  To all excuses God will respond, "I created, saved, and called you and commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?"

We are only fully alive when we're helping others. Jesus said, "If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live." (Mk 8:35; 10:39; 16:25; Lke 9:24; 17:33).  If you are not serving, you are just existing -- because life is meant for serving God, and in that, God wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.but for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards.  The Bible warns "but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury (Rom.2:8)."  Wouldn't it be a shame, to say we are a Christian, go to church, etc., only to be denied entrance to heaven because "I was too busy," or "I had my own goals," or "I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for retirement."   Where is God fitting into the picture of your life and what are you doing to serve Him today?

Jim

BAR Article Was Mary Magdalene Wife of Jesus? Was Mary Magdalene a Prostitute?

Was Mary Magdalene Wife of Jesus? Was Mary Magdalene a Prostitute?

How did her reputation evolve “From Saint to Sinner?”

Biblical Archaeology Society Staff • 09/24/2013

Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? Was Mary Magdalene wife of Jesus? Her being a repentant whore was not part of the biblical text. Photo: Private Collection /Bridgeman Art Library /Courtesy of IAP Fine Art

When novelists and screen writers try to insert something salacious into the life of Jesus, they focus on one woman: Mary from Magdala. Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? Was Mary Magdalene the wife of Jesus? Birger A. Pearson addresses these popular notions in the article “From Saint to Sinner” below.

As Pearson notes, there’s no substantial evidence to either of these theories. As for her being named in the New Testament, none of the Gospels hints of her as being Mary Magdalene, wife of Jesus. Three Gospels name her only as a witness of his crucifixion and/or burial. All four Gospels place her at the scene of Jesus’ resurrection (though Luke does not list her as a witness). Only in the Gospel according to Luke is there even the slightest implication that she might have had a past life that could raise eyebrows and the question: Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? Luke 8 names her among other female followers and financial supporters and says that she had been released from the power of seven demons.

Theologians in later centuries consciously tried to downplay her role as an influential follower of Jesus. She became identified with the “sinful woman” in Luke 7 whom Jesus forgives as she anoints his feet, as well as the woman “taken in adultery” whom Jesus saved from stoning. In the sixth century Pope Gregory preached of her being a model penitent.

Only the Western church has said that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. The Eastern church has always honored her as an apostle, noting her as the “apostle to the apostles,” based on the account of the Gospel of John which has Jesus calling her by name and telling her to give the news of his resurrection to the other disciples.

As Birger A. Pearson sets forth in “From Saint to Sinner” below, a noncanonical Gospel of Mary enhances her role to a greater proportion. Her ongoing role in the early church is subject to speculation, but she is indeed getting more respect in theological circles, not for being Mary Magdalene wife of Jesus nor for being Mary Magdalene a prostitute but for being a faithful follower of her Rabboni—Teacher.

From Saint to Sinner

by Birger A. Pearson

Dan Brown, William Phipps, Martin Scorsese—when looking for a lover or wife for Jesus, they all chose Mary Magdalene. It’s not surprising. Mary Magdalene has long been recognized as one of the New Testament’s more alluring women. Most people think of her as a prostitute who repented after encountering Jesus. In contemporary British artist Chris Gollon’s painting of The Pre-penitent Magdalene (at right), Mary appears as a defiant femme fatal adorned with jewelry and make-up.

Yet, the New Testament says no such thing. Rather, in three of the four canonical Gospels, Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name only in connection with the death and resurrection of Jesus. She is a witness to his crucifixion (Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41; John 19:25) and burial (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47). 1 She is one of the first (the first, according to John) to arrive at the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1–8; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–10). And she is one of the first (again, the first, according to John) to witness the risen Christ (Matthew 28:9; John 20:14–18).

Only the Gospel of Luke names Mary Magdalene in connection with Jesus’ daily life and public ministry. There, Mary is listed as someone who followed Jesus as he went from village to village, bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. “And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:1–3).

The Galilee is one of the most evocative locales in the New Testament—the area where Jesus was raised and where many of the Apostles came from. Our free eBook, The Galilee Jesus Knew, focuses on several aspects of Galilee: how Jewish the area was in Jesus’ time, the ports and the fishing industry that were so central to the region, and several sites where Jesus likely stayed and preached.

The epithet “Magdalene,” used in all the Gospels, indicates that Mary came from the mercantile town of Migdal (Taricheae) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. 2 She must have been a woman of some means, if Luke’s account can be trusted, for she helped provide Jesus and the twelve with material support. She had also experienced Jesus’ healing power, presumably involving an exorcism of some sort. 3 It should be noted, though, that the author of the Gospel of Luke has a tendency to diminish Mary Magdalene’s role, in comparison with her treatment in the other three canonical Gospels. For example, Luke is alone among the canonical Gospels in claiming that the risen Lord appeared exclusively to Peter (Luke 24:34; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:5). No appearance to Mary is recorded in Luke. 4 Accordingly, his reference to seven demons may be tendentious. 5

So how did Mary become a repentant whore in Christian legend?

Critical scholarship has provided the answer to this question: It happened as a conscious attempt on the part of later interpreters of the Gospels to diminish her.a They did this by identifying her with other women mentioned in the Gospels, most notably the unnamed sinful woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with ointment and whose sins he forgives (Luke 7:36–50) and the unnamed woman taken in adultery (John 7:53–8:11). 6 This conflation of texts was given sanction in the sixth century by Pope Gregory the Great (540–604) in a famous homily in which he holds Mary up as a model of penitence. Pope Gregory positively identified the unnamed anointer and adulteress as Mary, and suggested that the ointment used on Jesus’ feet was once used to scent Mary’s body. The seven demons Jesus cast out of Mary were, according to Gregory, the seven cardinal sins, which include lust. But, wrote Gregory, when Mary threw herself at Jesus’ feet, “she turned the mass of her crimes to virtues, in order to serve God entirely in penance.” 7

Thus was invented the original hooker with a heart of gold.

Interestingly, the legend of Mary the penitent whore is found only in the Western church; in the Eastern church she is honored for what she was, a witness to the resurrection. Another Gregory, Gregory of Antioch (also sixth century), in one of his homilies, has Jesus say to the women at the tomb: “Proclaim to my disciples the mysteries which you have seen. Become the first teacher of the teachers. Peter, who has denied me, must learn that I can also choose women as apostles.” 8

Mary’s historical role as an apostle is clearly tied to her experience of an appearance of the risen Christ. As noted above, in the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene goes alone to the tomb, where she is the first to see the risen Jesus. He tells her to tell his “brethren” that he is ascending to God the Father. She then goes to the disciples and tells them what she has seen and heard (John 20:1, 11–19). 9 Later that same day Jesus appears to the disciples gathered behind closed doors. He thus confirms in person the message Mary had given them. In contrast to Luke’s picture of Mary, in John she emerges as an “apostle to the apostles.” 10

To learn more about Biblical women with slighted traditions, read How Bad Was Jezebel? and Lilith: Seductress, Heroine or Murderer? online for free in Bible History Daily.

The positive role played by Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of John was considerably enhanced in Christian circles that honored her memory. The Gospel of Mary, quoted in the accompanying article, is the product of one such early Christian community. In her recent book The Resurrection of Mary Magdalene, Jane Schaberg presents the following nine-point “profile” of Mary:

(1) Mary is prominent among the followers of Jesus; (2) she exists as a character, as a memory, in a textual world of androcentric language and patriarchal ideology; (3) she speaks boldly; (4) she plays a leadership role vis-à-vis the male disciples; (5) she is a visionary; (6) she is praised for her superior understanding; (7) she is identified as the intimate companion of Jesus; (8) she is opposed by or in open conflict with one or more of the male disciples; (9) she is defended by Jesus. 11

All nine characteristics are prominent in the Gospel of Mary, although many of these nine points are found in other noncanonical texts.

But does this portrait of Mary Magdalene as an early Church leader reflect historical reality? Perhaps. One scholar has suggested that Mary may even be mentioned along with a few other female leaders whom Paul sends greetings to in Romans 16:6, where he writes: “Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you.” 12 But this must remain speculative. It is true that we have no reason to suspect Mary was a prostitute or lover or wife of Jesus. But it is also true that if she was an apostle to the apostles, the evidence for her role has successfully been suppressed—at least until now. As a result of the recent work of a number of scholars, Mary Magdalene’s apostolic role in early Christianity is getting a new hearing.

That, in my view, is more important than viewing her as Jesus’ wife.

The recent discovery of a Coptic papyrus fragment reignited the discussion on Jesus’ marriage. Read more about early Christian text featuring the words “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife …,’” and “Mary is worthy of it.”

Notes

1 Luke 23:55 refers to “the women who had come with him from Galilee” without naming any of them.

2 On that town, see esp. Jane Schaberg, The Resurrection of Mary Magdalene: Legends, Apocrypha, and the Christian Testament (New York: Continuum, 2002), pp. 47–64.

3 Reference to seven demons may mean that she was totally possessed. On the seven demons see Esther de Boer, Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1997), pp. 48–55.

4 See esp. Ann Graham Brock, Mary Magdalene, the First Apostle: The Struggle for Authority (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003), pp. 19–40.

5 In a secondary ending to the Gospel of Mark, it is said that Jesus “appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons” (Mark 16:9). The secondary ending is probably dependent upon the Gospel of Luke. As the best manuscripts attest, the earliest versions of Mark end at 16:8.

6 Mel Gibson makes that identification in his movie, The Passion of the Christ. On the tendentious conflation of traditions, see esp. Schaberg, Resurrection of Mary Magdalene, pp. 65–77, 82.

7 Quoted in Schaberg, Resurrection of Mary Magdalene, p. 82.

8 Quoted in de Boer, Mary Magdalene, p. 12.

9 Vv. 2–10 are probably a later interpolation into a more original account and interrupt the flow of the narrative.

10 On this term see Brock, Mary Magdalene, the First Apostle, p. 1. Brock’s book is a valuable discussion of the apostolate in early Christianity and Mary’s role in it.

11 Schaberg, Resurrection of Mary Magdalene, p. 129.

12 de Boer, Mary Magdalene, pp. 59–60.

“From Saint to Sinner” by Birger A. Pearson originally appeared in Bible Review, Spring 2005, 36-37.

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Tagged with archaeology, BAS, Bible Review, Biblical text, Jane Schaberg, Mary Magdalene, Mary Magdalene Wife of Jesus, New Testament, Paul, Resurrection, Review, The gospel of mark, Was Mary Magdalene a Prostitute.

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