Sunday, January 7, 2018

Trump (and his supporters) need to all read Proverbs!

I've been reading through Proverbs, and today it seemed like every other couplet referred to Trump and his Cabinet and supporters. And that was just Proverbs 11 through 15!!

When arrogance appears, disgrace follows,
But wisdom is with those who are unassuming 
(Proverbs 11:2)

A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,
But it is torn down by the speech of the wicked.
(Proverbs 11:11)

He who speaks contemptuously of his fellowman is devoid of sense; 
A prudent man keeps his peace.
(Proverbs 11:12)

He who loves discipline loves knowledge; 
He who spurns reproof is a brutish man.
(Proverbs 12:1)

The purposes of the righteous are justice,
The schemes of the wicked are deceit.
(Proverbs 12:5)

A man is commended according to his intelligence; 
A twisted mind is held up to contempt.
(Proverbs 12:8)

A righteous man knows the needs of his beast,
But the compassion of the wicked is cruelty.
(Proverbs 12:10)

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; 
But the wise man accepts advice.
(Proverbs 12:15)

A fool's vexation is known at once,
But a clever man conceals his humiliation.
(Proverbs 12:16)

He who testifies faithfully tells the truth,
But a false witness, deceit.
(Proverbs 12:17)

Deceit is in the minds of those who plot evil;
For those who plan good there is joy.
(Proverbs 12:20)

He who guards his tongue preserves his life;
He who opens wide his lips, it is his ruin.
(Proverbs 13:3)

Arrogance yields nothing but strife,
Wisdom belongs to those who seek advice.
(Proverbs 13:10)

He who keeps company with the wise becomes wise; 
But he who consorts with dullards comes to grief.
(Proverbs 13:20)

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of haughtiness,
But the lips of the wise protect them.
(Proverbs 14:3)

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
But knowledge comes easily to the intelligent man.
(Proverbs 14:6)

A simple person believes anything, 
A clever man ponders his course.
(Proverbs 14:15)

A truthful witness saves lives; 
He who testifies lies spreads deceit.
(Proverbs 14:25)

He who withholds what is due to the poor affronts his Maker; 
He who shows pity for the needy honors Him.
(Proverbs 14:31)

The scoffer dislikes being reproved;
He will not resort to the wise.
(Proverbs 15:12)

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
Than a fattened ox where there is hate.
(Proverbs 15:17)

A hot-tempered man provokes a quarrel; 
A patient man calms strife.
(Proverbs 15:18)

He who spurns discipline hates himself; 
He who heeds reproof gains understanding.
(Proverbs 15:32)

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Cherry Picking the Bible

One of my problems with evangelicals and their righteous attitudes is what they focus on as their Christian duty. They get all outraged by abortion, pre-marital sex, and gay marriage. These are things that are not big issues in the Bible. If at all.

But there are other things that the Lord does ask of us. Things that evangelicals either gloss over or are just hypocrites over. For instance, stewardship of the Earth. In Genesis 1:26, he places "dominion over the Earth" in man's hands. This does not mean despoiling. This is more like when you are asked to house sit for your grandparents. You can use the things in the house, but you don't trash the house.

While still reading the Jewish Study Bible, in Psalms 147, the footnote for verses 8 and 9 states "God created an ecologically harmonious world in which creatures are cared for (cf 104:10-16); the psalm stresses God's ongoing care for his creatures."

Ecologically harmonious. Ongoing care. I feel that so-called Christians and religious people need to re-read their Bibles and see what God (and Christ) are actually saying. Also, we must make our own minds up. I have learned that sometimes religious leaders in my church (as well as others) are not always in harmony with what I read. When that happens, I have to keep my own counsel and ask for the Lord's.

Bless our Earth. It needs all the protection it can get with us on it.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Recorded in Your Book

In my study of the Old Testament using the excellent The Jewish Study Bible (I'm using the 1st edition), I'm up to Psalms 139 right now. The note for verse 16 stood out.

The phrase "recorded in Your book"refers, it says, to the book God showed to Adam. This is the book containing the list of all people ever to be born. What is really interesting is what they say about another interpretation of this. According to Ibn Ezra, "it is the blueprint according to which the person is formed."

Also according to this book, a common rabbinic tradition imagines that the Torah served as the divine blueprint during creation.

This means - according to my interpretation - that everyone of us carries this book within us. It's our DNA!!!! Very cool!!