Abram

The story of Abram/Abraham is fascinating.  How could God take a jerk (based upon his willingness to hide behind his wife in Egypt) and bless the entire world through him?  But there is a piece of him that you have to admire. ( letting Lot chose the better ground rather than quarreling)  Throughout the Bible, we Christians are reminded of our responsibility to take the "high road" in our relationships with others and the world.  We are to be a people who seek after unity in the body even if it means sacrificial behavior (goodness, doesn't that sound like Jesus) on our part.

Just because it is so soon after Christmas, I am again reminded of a theme in the Bible of how many times God uses a pagan world to protect his plan.  Abram goes down into Egypt as a protection against famine.  Joseph is sold into slavery and goes down into Egypt to emerge as a nation.  The baby Jesus goes down into Egypt and is protected from Herod.

Notice in Chapter 14 how Abram gave 1/10 of the spoils of war to Melchizedek.  I think this is the 1st mention of the tithe.  A lot of folks believe that Melchizedek is the introduction of Christ as a person into the biblical narrative.  I don't know what to think about it.  Do you have any thoughts on the person of Melchizedek?

Peleg and Babel

Genesis 10:25  refers to Peleg and a time when the earth was divided.  What do you think that means....could it be a time when the continents began to shift as referred to in our world geography texts?  Just wondering....what do you think.


And then this Babel thing....is that the same sin that caused Lucifer to be cast down from heaven?  Is it the same sin that Lucifer used to tempt Adam and Eve.....the thought that we, the created, can become as the Creator.  Does that same sin visit each of us in a variety of ways as we seek to be bigger, faster, stronger and to acquire all that we can possible have.  Is that what keeps us from sharing the blessings that we possess as gifts from God with those who need so desperately to be blessed?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Dave

Am I my brother's keeper?

There it is, the question that has been asked generation after generation almost since the beginning of time.  And the answer is still....yes!  It was true in the days of Cain and Abel, It was true in the time of Christ when he instructed those who listened and followed to love thy neighbor as thyself and it is true today.  I wonder why it is that we struggle so much with the most simple of concepts.  Perhaps it is still the second sin or perhaps it is as it was with Cain, that we simply to lackadaisical in our approach to God and to life in general.

I always think that it is interesting when we read the Bible that something new appears to us as though it were hidden from us in our earlier readings.  In Chapter 6 when God limits the days of man to 120 years...is that an extension of the earlier curse?  Or is God trying by more subtle means than the flood to bring us back within the fold?

Also the answer to how long Noah was on the ark, he entered on the 17th day of the 2nd month and they left on the 27th day of the 2nd month in the following year.  That is a lot of compost to be dealt with!

I enjoyed your postings.  I hope that we will be able to instruct one another out of the insights that God reveals to each of and thus participate in a kind of theological study that God can use to build up his people.

I am humbled to know that there are folks who are reading my ramblings.  Proof again that God is gracious and kind; beyond that which we deserve.

Hope you have a wonderful God-blessed 1st week of the New Year

the 2nd sin

Isn't it interesting to wonder?  I mean what do you suppose would have happened to Adam and Eve if they had accepted responsibility for their sin?  God simply asked them, "who told you that you are naked?"  What would God's response have been had Adam 'fessed up?  "I did, Father, and I am sorry for breaking your rule."  Would God have responded with forgiveness?  We will never know, because both Adam and Eve compounded their rebellion by seeking to absolve themselves of their misdeed and blaming someone else.  Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the snake.  How much better off we are when we accept responsibility and seek forgiveness.

Creation

Interesting thing in the 2nd chapter of Genesis; God created man from the creation, that is from the dust of the earth, something that God spoke into being; but then he added his breath and that separated this part of the creation from all the rest.  All of creation came to be because God spoke it into being, but mankind (man & woman) came to life because God gave part of himself to give it (no longer an it) life.  How much like that was the Easter story when again God gave a part of himself (Jesus) to give mankind life eternal.  Just a thought as I read from our 1st day's assignment.  Anything strike you as interesting?

I am jumping the gun just a little, sitting here at home on New Year's Eve waiting for Patty to say that it is time to go to church for the watch party.  So here goes....In the beginning....a very good place to start.  I hope that this exercise in bible reading will bear great fruit for the kingdom something that is very good.  Very good is kind of the theme of God's creation.  Each day (whatever that was) when God had included his work, he pronounced it to be very good!  Wouldn't that be a marvelous way to live our lives, that at the end of each day we could look back on the events of our day and say, "that was good"!  I think that God intended for us to live our lives in a way that produced good as we shepherd and have Christian dominion over all that God has given us charge over.

God has given us these Holy scriptures and as we spend a little time in them in 2011, our prayer will be that God will do a mighty creation work in us; that we, the people of Faith will become good and out of his goodness will do good in the name of the great I Am.

almost time

Dear Faithful,
Are you ready?  I am getting excited about the possibilities.  God's word is alive....sharper than a two edged sword.  Imagine what God might reveal to us if we are sincere in searching his word for the truth that he intends for Faith UMC.  We have been birthed and nurtured by God's goodness and I believe that he intends great things for us in the time that lies ahead.  If we have 2o or 30 folks engaged in his word as we read the Bible chapter by chapter together, he may well provide some real "aha" moments for the faithful.  I hope that you will keep me faithful and on track.  3 chapters each day and 5 on Sunday.  God has been faithful to us.  Can we discipline ourselves to be more faithful to him.  I am praying for the church today.  Will you join me?