Seeds For Thinking

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

* The Great Guru
* Scripture: Paul wrote, "You see, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6, NIV

To whom do you go for information? Where do you turn?
Judging from one popular concept, presented in the 'comic' strips, one goes to the Great Guru. The Seeker struggles up a mountain, and there, perched on a rather small peak, sits The Great Guru. The advice usually has more of a comic tone, rather than useful information, but what should one expect from a comic strip?
We need more practical, useful advice in real life. There are two things that I see lacking about the mountain top guru idea: Am I assured that his guruness has walked the valley below, and, what have I gained from struggling up the mountain to some guy who seems to have distanced himself from real life?
To whom do we go? To someone who is acknowledged to have a solid reputation gained from experience. A leader who has risen through the ranks. A teacher, perhaps, who has thoroughly researched the topic in question. Hopefully, one who has lived it, breathed it, met the obstacles and overcame them. One does not go to a doctor because they have those magic initials on their door - "Dr." You go to a doctor because they have the knowledge and ability to treat your illness.
We need to know that the Great Guru has "walked that lonesome valley." We want advice from someone who has encountered the bumps in the road, navigated the curves, has correctly chosen the right fork in the interchange of life, and achieved the result that we are seeking.
Some of the notable people in history did indeed struggle up the mountain to receive information and inspiration - Moses and Elijah, for example. And Peter, James and John. They had an excellent guide and teacher, by the way. Jesus, the Christ, the Very Son Of God! Jesus was preparing teachers. People who could be first hand witnesses of the fulfillment of scripture. There, they met Moses the lawgiver, and Elijah, representing God's faithful forth-tellers, the prophets.
They came from the valley of the real world, and to the real world they returned, filled with the knowledge that God had validated His Son in what became known as the Transfiguration. Fulfillment of the Laws, in the tradition of the Prophets, and the Blessing of The God over all. (See Mark 9:2-9)
Jesus has walked the valley, he has ascended the mountain, indeed to the very heavens; to Him we can go! No need to struggle up our own mountain.
Believe that He died for ALL!
February 26, 2006

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

* I Am
* Scripture: Moses asked, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?" Exodus 3:13, NKJV

If you recall the passage from Exodus where God calls to Moses from the burning bush, God concludes by instructing Moses to tell the people that "I AM sent you."
Later, on the mountain, Moses received the Commandments, beginning with the statement, "I am the Lord your God." These first commandments establish a relationship with God, one based on reverence, worship, and esteem. That includes a proper respect and understanding of HIS NAME.
Suppose that you are responsible for translating the ancient writings into a modern version of the English language. There is no one to speak those ancient words, no one still using those symbols that represent speech.
Now add the complexity that derives from a reluctance of those ancients to even speak or write that most righteous Name, and the the scholar is left searching. The scribes would write the letters YHWH instead of spelling out THE NAME. It is called a Tetragrammaton. From it, we get ‘Yahweh.’
About 300 B.C. the Jews began the custom of pronouncing the name 'adonay' (my Lord or LORD) or 'elohim.' Take the various spellings, run the Hebrew through Latin, and we get 'Jehovah.'
According to one of my references (The New Westminister Dictionary of the Bible) the word comes from a verb which means to befall, to come to pass, happen, become, be ; The name accordingly means "He who happens (upon us), he who befalls (upon us), he who in the absolute sense exists and who manifests his existence and his character." (Ex. 3:13-15) - "I AM."
The dictionary further gives these definitions:
'elohim, God, is the creator, upholder, and moral governor of the universe;
'el Shadday, God almighty, is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their present strength and future existence;
Yahweh (YHWH) is the God of revelation and grace, dwelling with his people, guiding and delivering them, and receiving their worship.
"Lord" in our Bibles came from Hebrew 'adon,' "Master," or 'adonay; "my master", (i.e., "my Lord.") When you see LORD the original was YHWH.
A name is a very personal thing; it identifies who we are. At least for the time being:

"There's a new name written down in Glory,
"And it's mine, O yes, it's mine!"
(C. Austin Miles)

To him who overcomes will be given a new name, according to Revelation 2:17 and 3:12. That will be an even more special name than the one we use now, because it will be given by THE ONE!
January 8, 2006

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

* Turn Aside
* Scripture: Jesus said, “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 66, NKJV

Solitary confinement! Now there’s a phrase to send shivers of dread up and down your spine. The thought of being isolated from other people is not pleasant for most of us, especially so if it is enforced isolation. Alone, lonely, lacking companionship. The Great Creator saw that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18) and provided for loving relationships, not only between man and wife, but families, tribes and nations.
Still, there seems to be a place for solitude in the scheme of things, at least in the sense of withdrawing from the din and clamor of worldly distractions that wear down the soul. I find precedent for a certain amount of solitude within the pages of the Bible.
While the Lord can and does speak to people in the midst of many, even to the sending of the Spirit, it is often in the quiet moments that the insight of dreams and visions is visited upon those who wait upon the Lord.
Jacob was in an isolated spot between Beersheba and Haran when God revealed His presence and His plan for Jacob in the dream of the ladder.
Jacob was again alone (Genesis 32:24) when a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. From that day, Jacob and his descendents have been called by the name of “Israel.”
God appeared to Moses in the “back of the desert” (Exodus Ch.3) in the midst of a burning bush. Note that Moses “turned aside” from what he was doing at the moment. That, I think. is the essence of our time with God; we must take time to “turn aside” and see what God wishes to share with us.
So, no, we don’t have to become a hermit, withdrawing from human companionship, nor enter into monastic seclusion. Rather, we should seek those moments of solitude whenever and where ever we can. Sort of like when we take an electronic device out of active service for a time to recharge the batteries.
Jesus often withdrew from the crowds, and even from the company of a few, to pray and talk to God, beginning with the time in the wilderness, prior to beginning His ministry. The devil spoke to Jesus there (so beware!) but even in that confrontation, Jesus was able to afirm the omnipotence of God and tell the devil to “get lost.” Time to think through and sort out priorities.
Again, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went a short distance from the disciples to pray. Not an actual separate room - just time away from the hustle and hassle of the world.
Cherish that solitary time - just you and the Lord.
May 22, 2005

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

* I Am
* Scripture: Moses asked, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?" Exodus 3:13, NKJV

If you recall the passage from Exodus where God calls to Moses from the burning bush, God concludes by instructing Moses to tell the people that "I AM sent you."
Later, on the mountain, Moses received the Commandments, beginning with the statement, "I am the Lord your God." These first commandments establish a relationship with God, one based on reverence, worship, and esteem. That includes a proper respect and understanding of HIS NAME.
Suppose that you are responsible for translating the ancient writings into a modern version of the English language. There is no one to speak those ancient words, no one still using those symbols that represent speech.
Now add the complexity that derives from a reluctance of those ancients to even speak or write that most righteous Name, and the the scholar is left searching. The scribes would write the letters YHWH instead of spelling out THE NAME. It is called a Tetragrammaton. From it, we get ‘Yahweh.’
About 300 B.C. the Jews began the custom of pronouncing the name 'adonay' (my Lord or LORD) or 'elohim.' Take the various spellings, run the Hebrew through Latin, and we get 'Jehovah.'
According to one of my references (The New Westminister Dictionary of the Bible) the word comes from a verb which means to befall, to come to pass, happen, become, be ; The name accordingly means "He who happens (upon us), he who befalls (upon us), he who in the absolute sense exists and who manifests his existence and his character." (Ex. 3:13-15) - "I AM."
The dictionary further gives these definitions:
'elohim, God, is the creator, upholder, and moral governor of the universe;
'el Shadday, God almighty, is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their present strength and future existence;
Yahweh (YHWH) is the God of revelation and grace, dwelling with his people, guiding and delivering them, and receiving their worship.
"Lord" in our Bibles came from Hebrew 'adon,' "Master," or 'adonay; "my master", (i.e., "my Lord.") When you see LORD the original was YHWH.
A name is a very personal thing; it identifies who we are. At least for the time being:

"There's a new name written down in Glory,
"And it's mine, O yes, it's mine!"
(C. Austin Miles)

To him who overcomes will be given a new name, according to Revelation 2:17 and 3:12. That will be an even more special name than the one we use now, because it will be given by THE ONE!
January 8, 2006

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

Scripture: Moses asked, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?" Exodus 3:13, NKJV

If you recall the passage from Exodus where God calls to Moses from the burning bush, God concludes by instructing Moses to tell the people that "I AM sent you."
Later, on the mountain, Moses received the Commandments, beginning with the statement, "I am the Lord your God." These first commandments establish a relationship with God, one based on reverence, worship, and esteem. That includes a proper respect and understanding of HIS NAME.
Suppose that you are responsible for translating the ancient writings into a modern version of the English language. There is no one to speak those ancient words, no one still using those symbols that represent speech.
Now add the complexity that derives from a reluctance of those ancients to even speak or write that most righteous Name, and the the scholar is left searching. The scribes would write the letters YHWH instead of spelling out THE NAME. It is called a Tetragrammaton. From it, we get ‘Yahweh.’
About 300 B.C. the Jews began the custom of pronouncing the name 'adonay' (my Lord or LORD) or 'elohim.' Take the various spellings, run the Hebrew through Latin, and we get 'Jehovah.'
According to one of my references (The New Westminister Dictionary of the Bible) the word comes from a verb which means to befall, to come to pass, happen, become, be ; The name accordingly means "He who happens (upon us), he who befalls (upon us), he who in the absolute sense exists and who manifests his existence and his character." (Ex. 3:13-15) - "I AM."
The dictionary further gives these definitions:
'elohim, God, is the creator, upholder, and moral governor of the universe;
'el Shadday, God almighty, is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their present strength and future existence;
Yahweh (YHWH) is the God of revelation and grace, dwelling with his people, guiding and delivering them, and receiving their worship.
"Lord" in our Bibles came from Hebrew 'adon,' "Master," or 'adonay; "my master", (i.e., "my Lord.") When you see LORD the original was YHWH.
A name is a very personal thing; it identifies who we are. At least for the time being:

"There's a new name written down in Glory,
"And it's mine, O yes, it's mine!"
(C. Austin Miles)

To him who overcomes will be given a new name, according to Revelation 2:17 and 3:12. That will be an even more special name than the one we use now, because it will be given by THE ONE!
January 8, 2006