Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets”. (Matthew 22:40, NKJV)

There is an old saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
I am not sure how the “godliness” part applies to gasoline engines, but I can tell you - from experience - that cleanliness does make a big difference - to go, or not go!
Assuming that the hardware is all in place, and the proper fuel is supplied, there are still two things that have to occur at the right time: The proper fuel to air mixture must be pulled into the cylinder (carburization) and the plug needs to spark at the right time (ignition).
The spark part is easy to check: Grab ahold of the spark plug wire and spin the engine!
Not really!!
Take the plug out and check it - part of the cleanliness routine. Then spin the flywheel and check for a spark at the plug. Got spark? Good; the ignition part is ready to go.
Now, to the fuel part - carburization - a part that can drive you nuts! Not just fuel, but the proper ratio of fuel to air. A speck of dirt, a cloggage in any part of the system, messes up the entire process.
If I have the parts that make up the ignition system, along with the fuel tank and the carburetor, I have an engine, ready to go.
No?
You’re correct! There are valves, cams, pistons, a crank shaft and many other critical parts. So what is the “greatest” part of a working engine?
The Pharisees asked Jesus to tell them what kind of law, of all the laws, is the most important. It is a trap, as verse 35 attests. It is like asking, “What is the most important part of an engine?”
At the very least they're asking him (they think) to choose between moral law and ceremonial law, to declare an ultimate allegiance either to the Pharisees (who would have generally focused on the moral law) or the Saducees (ultimate guardians of the ceremonial law as operators of the temple).
Both parties get caught up in observing a minutia of details and trivia. When to pray; how to pray, what to wear; what to eat; what is considered to be work - etc, etc . . .
Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all you are AND your neighbor as yourself. From this all the law and prophets hang."
This is what Jesus was saying in Matthew 22:37.
The first and greatest commandment concerns our relationship toward and with God, and is like the spark of an engine: Sure, we might “fire” only part of the time - not consistent in our relationship to God. Our “timing” might be erratic; we are not in synch with God’s plans for us.
Maybe our devotion becomes “short circuited” by things that draw our attention away from God - things that become our idols, focusing on our wants & desires, not our needs. On worldly things, trinkets & treasures, habits & pleasures. But the bottom line is: either you have a total commitment to God, or you don’t.
So - Love the Lord, your God with all of your being.”
People! Your “Neighbors.” And who is my neighbor? That’s like the carburetor of an engine: lots of small things can mess up the mixture. A common belief limited such neighborly relationships to their friends and companions, and one of their own religion. It was said, "Do not I hate them that hate me?"
Jesus acknowledged that was a common saying, beginning in Matthew 5:43 (part of the Beatitudes, chapts. 5-6-7 of Matthew’s gospel). He said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
Loving the Lord God with all our being, and extending that love to all of God’s creation, still lacks one import part: Most of us know by heart John 3:16 :
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:17 adds that the people of the world will be saved through Him.

Seeds for Thinking (©) 1996 - 2011 by Leland Hubbell

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: The Lord then answered (the ruler of the synagogue) and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?” (Luke 13:15, NKJV) -
Read Luke 13:10-17)

I must confess that I have never been fond of tending cattle. Been around them, yes, but not high on my animal preference list. Now, words about cattle - that’s a different story. So a question popped into my head about a phrase I have often heard around the cattle barn: “So boss,” as a call, or to calm a jittery cow. At least that’s what it sounds like to me. Maybe “soo boss,” but definitely ‘boss.’ The term “bossy cow,” or the name, Bossy.
Why boss and bossy? The popular search engine wasn’t much practical help, leading me around and around the barn, so to speak, until I found a list of words for ‘cow’ in several languages. An old English word for cow is cú; Latin bos, bovis; Greek ‘bous.’ The ancient Teutons heard ‘cu’ where we hear ‘moo.’ The Greeks and Romans heard ‘boo.’ According to http://www.billcasselman.com/ many Europeans hears the cattle call as “cu -boss” (the ‘c’ possibly pronounced as ‘s?’) “Bossy” as a name for a specific cow is widespread throughout Europe. “Cu-bos” - Come, Bossy!
Sure enough, the Greek word Luke uses for ox in 13:15 is ‘bous.’ Paul uses the word a couple of times in his writings, as well. Like finding the pot of gold, for a word freak!
But enough about words. Let’s get back to the scripture, and Jesus’ reason for talking about livestock. (See Luke 13:10-17)
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue when He encountered a woman who had a spirit of infirmity that had kept her bent over for eighteen years. She couldn’t straighten up. Jesus laid His hands on her, and loosed her from her infirmity. She was immediately able to stand upright, and glorified God. Hallelujah! We might say.
But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant: This was the sabbath day, not a day for healing. No work permitted on the sabbath.
The Law permitted, - yes, required - that livestock, even the bous and onikos (donkey) were unloosed from the stall, and led away to water on the sabbath. Satan had bound this daughter of Abraham for eighteen years! Jesus had unloosed this bond - even on the sabbath.
Not only livestock, but also servants and strangers were to be accorded the same “rest” on the sabbath. (Exodus 23:10) The LORD declares, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalms 50:10)
It is important to note that “A righteous man regards the life of his animal.” (Proverbs 12:10) Oxen were often used to thresh out the grain by treading on the stalks and seed heads. They were not to be muzzled to prevent them from eating while working. (Deuteronomy 25:4) Lost, strayed or fallen animals were to be accorded proper care, and returned to their owner. (Deuteronomy 22:1-4)
“So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound - think of it - for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?
True love of God is this - To show love and compassion for God, ourselves, our neighbors, and even our ox and donkey, all seven days of the week. ”

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Scripture: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered: “ ‘ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. Do this and you will live.” Lk. 10:25-28, NIV
September 1, 2002

I Am My Church
My Church is composed of people like me,
We make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work,
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I bring them.
It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with noble spirit, if I, who makes it what it is, am filled with these traits.
Therefore with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things I want my church to be.
Amen.
Taken from The Flame of Newark District U.M. Women

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Scripture: Paul wrote, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22b, NIV

Baling wire to the rescue! The ubiquitous fix-it material. Once generally available on most any farm, it still does things the modern urbanized remedy for anything loose - duct tape - can not do. The demise of wire-tied hay bales is a loss to society as a whole. Even though baling twine has many uses, I’ve yet to see livestock chew off the wire fastener holding a gate closed. Neither duct tape or twine will replace a broken exhaust pipe or muffler hanger; wire is a natural! Many people have to resort to the close cousin, the coat hanger.
Thankfully, they do make a good substitute for baling wire - electric fence wire. I always keep rolls of a couple sizes handy. (Also tarp or bungie straps, duct tape, and twine. One must be ready for anything.)
I could go many directions towards life’s philosophies with this lead in.
Be like a piece of baling wire:
Be always available and useful.
Help hold people together when things start falling apart.
Bend yourself to fit the situation.
Well, you get the idea. And it’s not bad advice.
Maybe you can add to it.
Possibly you can think of ways that Jesus fits the idea. Seed for Thinking, right?
Paul had something like this in mind, I think, in his letter to the Corinthians. In essence, he wrote: (1 Cor. 19-22)
I made myself as a slave to everyone.
I became like a Jew to win Jews.
I became like one under the law.
I became like one not under the law.
To the weak I became weak.
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (My emphasis)
Why?
“I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings,”said Paul. Everyone benefits!
This comes pretty close to the thought of “bending yourself to fit the situation.”
Many times we come across people who want to bend everyone to fit their ideas. In the process, they alienate many, and convince few. Now I am not talking “situational ethics” here - (do whatever everyone else is doing; it’s OK). Neither is Paul, but he learns what they believe, and uses that knowledge so that by all possible means (he) might save some.
I know of no animal on the farm that I can get to eat by beating them. Nor can you drive people to salvation.
I think Paul is talking about adapting himself (bending) to the situation so that he can lead them gently in the direction he wants them to go. What do you think?
August 4, 2002

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Scripture: Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Mt. 22:37-40, NIV
Music plays an important role in our worship services. We offer our praises to God through music; our joys and our sorrows have been expressed through music back through the ages. Music not only expresses our feelings, it can set the mood for the occasion. There are times when the words of In The Garden soothe us, or Jesus Is Always There assure us. He Lives is an affirmation of the resurrection. The combination of words and music expressed in It Is Well With My Soul touch us in ways that words alone can not.
Still, there are some groups who prohibit music from their worship services. Others permit singing but not instrumental accompaniment. Why? I don’t know what Biblical admonition they use to justify that position.
While the Bible does not give us free rein to do anything we want, tradition probably shapes what we do and how we do it more than guidance from the Bible. Jesus taught that ‘internals’, matters of heart, mind, and tongue, were more important than externals, such as clothing. Read Luke 12:22-34. Our attitude toward things is more important than the things themselves. We forget part of the quotation about money and evil. Money in and of itself is not evil, because it is a means of exchange for goods and services. It is love of money that is the snare and stumbling block. The overpowering desire to have, and to have more and more. We often hear of people who have enough for their needs and desires, but who embezzle from their employer, or the accounts for which they are responsible. It is difficult to understand how or why people can misunderstand, or twist, the words of the commandment “Do Not Steal.” Simple! If it is not yours, it is NOT YOURS!
Our laws have as a basis The Ten Commandments. Ten. So why do we have thousands of laws? Because people, even knowing the basic laws, try to twist them to get around the intent of the law. “Finders, Keepers” we say, but then we assure ourselves that the item we take must be “lost.” Look at even the smallest newspaper that reports the “police blotter” and you will read of thefts, vandalism, and bodily abuse. Surely these things are against the laws, the Ten Commandments, and God’s expressed will for us. We are to love God, and respect people’s person and property: Jesus said these fulfill the law, if we do them.
My seed thought for you to grow is this: “What exactly does the Bible (God’s Word) require of us in the way of clothing, food, music, technology (things electrical, etc. ) and customs /lifestyles?”
March 17, 2002

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Scripture: The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:16, NKJV)

Anyone who studies the sciences or mathematics soon discovers that there are numerous rules and laws that describe how things can be expected to function. For example, inertia is the property of an object that is moving to keep on moving, or an object at rest to stay at rest. Likewise, the whole is the sum of its parts. If you take parts/pieces away from something, there will eventually be nothing left of the original. While there are stories about jars of cooking oil that never run dry, and the baskets of meal that never empty, these are miraculous events, usually to reward someone for performing a kindness. In the real world, we have to make occasional trips to the market to replenish the refrig or cupboard.
A community, or an organization, can be shown to follow many of those same rules. The community we live in, or the church we attend, is also the total of all that the members bring to it - good and bad! Earl Gleason, who taught at Appleton for many years, had his students memorize many sayings; I still remember this one:
There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it doesn't behoove any of us
To talk about the rest of us.
Yes, we all contribute, or detract, from every group with which we are associated. Hopefully, our contributions outnumber our detractions.
The law of parts can apply to our community as well. Think of the many relationships we have with friends and family, and the many blessings and benefits from being part of something bigger than one individual. As we receive, so also should we return our own gifts and talents to the community. If everyone took out, and did not give back, soon there would not be the supportive world we expect to be there for us. Look at the many nations torn apart by strife and greed. The truth is plain to see for those who seek it - Gods laws reward those who follow them. 8/17/97

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Scripture: All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mark 7:9, NKJV)

That was then - This is now!
Thunder, lightning, hail, torrential rain - we had it all at the VBS picnic. We made joking comparisons to the plagues of the Old Testament Exodus, except we could cancel our re-enactment (which we did.) The Hebrew people, of course, were on a forty-year camp-out. Although we could make comparisons, a great gulf of difference exists between our lifestyles and theirs. Still, we share and hold dear that which God ordained for all peoples during their wanderings.
While we readily accept the Ten Commandments, the Biblical account goes on at length with specific applications of those commandments. For example, there is a whole section of Mosaic law concerned with oxen; not many of us can relate to the problems of wandering oxen in our community. But what about wandering pets, or children, that tear up the neighbors flower bed? What are our rights and responsibilties as we travel the pathways of our own day? Who is our neighbor?
As I meditated on the Laws of Moses, it occurred to me that Jesus (and later Church leaders) had to deal with those laws for their own time and peoples. All too often, the people applied the words of the law to their situation, but not the intent of the law. The Bible is very explicit in condeming those who construed the law so as to give some persons legal advantage over others. Jesus was also very critical of those, like the Pharisees, who pressed the word of the law, even if it was in conflict with Gods intent. One example is given in Mark 7:11, where persons could by law of Corban set apart for God anything that could benefit their father or mother. This, Jesus said, conflicted with Gods commandment to honor your father and mother.
All law can be reduced to two standards, as Jesus said: Love toward God, and Love toward each other. The intent of the laws of their day and of ours should be similar - equitable treatment and respect for all persons. That should be the foundation, the basis for all law. 8/3/97