re·li·gion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conductof human affairs. Posts in this category pertain to religious matters and issues.
Posted 21 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 30, Jeremiah 31:1-26
NT: I Timothy 2
Ps: Psalm 87
Pr: Proverbs 25:18-19
Today´s notable verse:
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…
I Timothy 2:5 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 21 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 28-29
NT: I Timothy 1
Ps: Psalm 86
Pr: Proverbs 25:17
Today´s notable verse:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
I Timothy 1:15 (NIV)
I think that which makes this saying so trustworthy is the final phrase: Paul viewed himself as the worst sinner in the world – a view that each of us should in humility take for himself. I know that I have enough sin in my own life on which to concentrate; I don’t need to worry about anyone else!
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 21 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 26-27
NT: II Thessalonians 3
Ps: Psalm 85
Pr: Proverbs 25:16
Today´s notable verse:
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
II Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV)
It seems I have often heard this maxim misquoted as, “If a man does not work, he shall not eat.” The former is both fair and compassionate; the latter is Marxist. The former recognizes that one’s responsibility is commensurate with his ability, and that society carries some burden for those who are unable to provide for themselves; the latter indicates that one who cannot work is a burden to society, and dispensible. The former recognizes the inherent worth of man as an endowment from his Creator; the latter implies that human worth is inherent only insofar as one is able to produce.
The significant difference lies in will and does. A man who will not work has the ability to work but chooses not to do so. Paul is speaking not against the failure to produce work but rather the failure to choose to uphold one’s responsibility to the extent that he is able to do so.
If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
Provbers 25:16 (NIV)
Moderation is an important virtue in Christian living. This virtue applies to most areas of life, including the area from which the imagery of this verse is taken: diet. Having spent most of my youth and college years overweight, I have some experience with dieting and weight loss. Even though I lost a considerable amount of weight, I do not take the approach that any certain food is always and forever off-limits. The key, of course, is moderation. I have chosen a carbohydrate-restricted way of eating in which refined sugar, flour, and starch are a very minimal part of my diet; however, that does not mean that I have eliminated such foods forever from my diet. Rather, in moderation I might have a serving-spoonful of home fries with a breakfast meal once in a while, rather than three potatoes’ worth every day.
This same principle applies to other areas of life. I may have a small glass of wine with dinner a few nights a week. I may go see a movie in a theater once a month. I may spend a few hours a week playing tennis or in some other form of exercise. I spend my time in the office working hard, with the mindset that I work to live rather than live to work. One of the keys to understanding the principle of moderation is, I think, found in Paul’s words elsewhere:
“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
I Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.
I Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)
In other words, the key to moderation is keeping God as Lord of our lives, and maintaining our priorities according to His principles. In so doing, we make choices accordingly in our lives, and therefore are not mastered by anything. Moderation is a principle of self-denial of gratification or over-indulgence, in order to set apart our lives for the greater good.
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 21 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 23:21-40, Jeremiah 24-25
NT: II Thessalonians 2
Ps: Psalm 84
Pr: Proverbs 25:15
Today´s notable verse:
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Proverbs 25:15 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
As most of you know, this summer I moved in with a friend of mine to help be a caretaker for her, her house, and (most importantly) her kids (all her animals, and especially her two dogs). This friend, at 28 years old, was facing a third bout with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). After undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy and finding a suitable donor for a marrow transplant, she was one week away from having the transplant procedure.
A week ago yesterday, she was admitted into the hospital, complaining of difficulty breathing. The doctors discovered damage to her heart, due to the chemo. Apparently as the week progressed, her condition worsened. She developed an infection that the doctors could not find. I got a call from her mom last night, that her liver and kidneys were failing, and that her heart was operating at only 20% of capacity. This morning, her brother called to tell me that she passed away during the night.
The words of her mom on Kelly’s Caring Bridge site journal from last night are an appropriate eulogy:
We are blessed to have a daughter as strong and bright as Kelly. She drives you crazy one second and has you laughing the next. She is always looking out for everyone and every animal. Even the mice that found their way into Kelly’s house were captured in live traps and released into the park. She loves life and animals. No matter what the animal. She is even trying to get over her fear of snakes by getting to know them.
Kelly took over our family once she was diagnosed the first time with ALL. By that I mean that she took care of us. She is the one who taught us how to fight and how to think only good things and not act terrified but to have a sense of humor. Not that she doesn’t get down from time to time but she always tries to show that she is doing well.
The last 10 years have been filled with all kinds of unknowns. Kelly never shows how scared she really is during these times. She puts on a brave face and finds something to occupy her mind. Terry and I had a difficult time during her transplant; we tried to protect Kelly from dirt, viruses, and people. But she jumped back into life full steam by buying a house of her own. She was determined to live her life, her way. We are so proud of how determined she can be and how much she can accomplish when she sets her mind to something. I should take a lesson from her because I always stick my toe into the water first; you know just to test it.
Kelly is always learning. She can’t have enough knowledge. There is always something new to learn. And she never turns down an opportunity to help someone with a pet. Whether that is advice on a certain problem or toenail clippings or someone to take care of them while they went out of town. She enjoys caring. It is a part of her.
There are not enough words to describe Kelly. I am finding it difficult to put everything down in this space. There are so many stories of Kelly and her animals, of Kelly and her brother and family, of Kelly and her friends, of Kelly and her work…..I could go on forever. But then again why do I have to put it into words, you already know Kelly because you have been there for her and helped not only her but us get through these past years.
Thank you to friends and family, for your support during this time. Thank you, especially, to Steph and her family for their words of support. As with her family, loved ones, and friends, I take comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering. I pray that in some small way I was able to help her get the most out of the last few months of her life – and I pray for forgiveness for any ways in which I may have failed to do so.
Always remember: life is precious, and it is a gift – but also, life is meant to be lived. Kelly exemplified this truth; she made the most of every moment. These are the situations that compel in us a changed perspective. Perhaps I missed opportunities; perhaps at times I took a too-short-term perspective. Yet perhaps, in the future, I will miss fewer opportunities; perhaps I will choose to see each moment not through the lens of the present but through the lens of eternity.
Posted 17 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 22, Jeremiah 23:1-20
NT: II Thessalonians 1
Ps: Psalm 83
Pr: Proverbs 25:11-14
Today´s notable verse:
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
II Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 17 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 19-21
NT: I Thessalonians 5:4-28
Ps: Psalm 82
Pr: Proverbs 25:9-10
Today´s notable verse:
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
I Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 17 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 16:16-21, Jeremiah 17-18
NT: I Thessalonians 4, I Thessalonians 5:1-3
Ps: Psalm 81
Pr: Proverbs 25:6-8
Today´s notable verses:
7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:7-10 (NIV)
A few things of note here. The first two verses are reminiscent of Psalm 1:1-4.
Verse 9 demonstrates the depraved state of man without Christ. Many people believe that human nature is inherently good, yet we see here clearly that, apart from God, human nature deceitful above all things and beyond cure. There is no good in man apart from God – yet God provides hope to we who are hopeless.
Finally, the apparent juxtaposition in verse 10, between heart/mind and conduct/deeds merits some interest. On the surface, it would be easy to overlook the apparent disparity in this verse – that God would search the heart and examine the mind, in order to judge according to conduct and deeds. The heart and mind represent intent, will, and thought – all internal matters; conduct and deeds represent outward action. Yet, God equates the two here. This verse could be taken two ways, both plausible: one, that the inward thoughts, will, and intent of our heart and mind dictate our outward conduct and deeds; two, that God considers our inward thoughts, will, and intent equal to our conduct and deeds.
11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
I Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 14:11-22, Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah 16:1-15
NT: I Thessalonians 2:9-20, I Thessalonians 3
Ps: Psalm 80
Pr: Proverbs 25:1-5
Today´s notable verse:
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
I Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NIV)
I am touched by the passion and intimacy with which Paul writes the Thessalonians, especially in the midst of his own suffering and persecution.
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 12-13, Jeremiah 14:1-10
NT: I Thessalonians 1, I Thessalonians 2:1-8
Ps: Psalm 79
Pr: Proverbs 24:30-34
Today´s notable verse:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- 34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 24:33-34 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.