Seeds For Thinking

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

Scripture: Paul wrote, “ . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24, NIV

Some of my chickens are looking rather shabby. Their feathers are worn, torn, and frayed. There are spots where they are missing entirely, and I am seeing feathers lying around on the ground - especially the tail feathers. Am I concerned? Not at all! They are going through an annual phase called “molting.”
The molt is a renewing process; the word comes to us through Old English from the Latin word “mutare” - to change - to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically. If you keep a dog or cat as a pet, you are familiar with the shedding process. The old coat of hair or fur falls out, especially in the summer, and you have the really shaggy dog (or cat) for a time.
Many animals, such as deer, shed and renew their antlers each year. That is quite a remarkable process, when you think about it. Antlers that are so firmly attached most of the year turn on the “disconnect” switch, so to speak, lose the old, and grow back a new set of antlers in the period of a few months.
Snakes shed their entire outer skin; crayfish (arthropods) their exoskeleton shell.
Probably the most visible example that we humanoids experience is best seen by examining the grins of children at the age that they are in the 1st and 2nd grade. Teeth! A rite of passage, as the baby teeth fall out, and the larger adult teeth grow in.
The most remarkable “mutation” is not physical, but spiritual. Jesus declared that we must be “born again.” (John 3:3)
Just as my chickens are showing the signs of daily living in their shabby feathers, so we humans show the corruption that comes through our human nature. We need to shed the old nature, and put on the new.
Paul expressed it this way: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV)

Time to “molt?” Put off the old, and put on the new!

Take time to look up “New Birth” in a Bible reference.

See also:

1. 2 Cor 4:16; 5:17;
2. Gal 6:15;
3. Eph 2:10;
4. Romans 2:29; 6:4-6; 8:7-8; 8:16,17.
5. A new heart, (Eze 36:26
6. A new spirit, (Eze 11:19.

Evidenced by:

* Faith in Christ (1 Jn 5:1)
* Righteousness, (1 Jn 2:29)
* Brotherly love (1 Jn 4:7)

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

* The Autoharp
* Scripture: Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV

In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody
With heaven’s harmony; (Elton M. Roth, 1924)

The children sat in rapt anticipation as the young teacher carefully opened the case and took out the autoharp, laying it tenderly across her lap. Taking up the felt pick, she swiftly strummed across the strings; the chords rang out strong and vibrant. Quickly, all were engaged in the joy of singing their favorite songs, led by the rhythm of the singing strings.
The teacher married, and soon took time out from the classroom to raise a family. The autoharp was set aside, as other duties crowded in. It was finally put away in the attic, away from the classroom, away from the children.
Times change; the teacher returned to the school, but in a different capacity. She no longer led the children in singing. The autoharp sat silent, neglected.
One day, as she sat listening to a man playing his autoharp in church, she remembered the instrument that had shared her early teaching moments. Retrieving it from its repose in the attic, she presented it to the musician, in hopes that it would once again stir voices in song.
But, Alas! Time and humidity had taken their toll, and the soundboard had warped so badly that many strings could no longer vibrate.
It sat mute for for several more years, but at least in the company of another autoharp. Not out of mind, but not capable of singing out, either. Finally, the day came when the musician had need of another instrument. Quietly studying the warped and twisted condition, he decided the only remedy was to strip the auto harp down to the basic frame, and rebuild it.
The frame was strengthened with dowel pins, and reglued. A new soundboard was installed. The time finally came when the strings were reinstalled over the newly stained and varnished instrument. Slowly, one by one, the strings were brought up to proper pitch. Slowly, lest the stress be too much too soon.
The musician recalled some words to fit the occasion;

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
Discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
Stirred the slumbering chords again.
(He Keeps Me Singing, Luther Burgess Bridgers, 1910)

One might say that the autoharp has been reborn. It will in fact return to the classroom, ringing out its chords and leading children in the joy of song.
I think there might be a message here for all who seek it out.
April 3, 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: Paul wrote, “ . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24, NIV

Some of my chickens are looking rather shabby. Their feathers are worn, torn, and frayed. There are spots where they are missing entirely, and I am seeing feathers lying around on the ground - especially the tail feathers. Am I concerned? Not at all! They are going through an annual phase called “molting.”
The molt is a renewing process; the word comes to us through Old English from the Latin word “mutare” - to change - to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically. If you keep a dog or cat as a pet, you are familiar with the shedding process. The old coat of hair or fur falls out, especially in the summer, and you have the really shaggy dog (or cat) for a time.
Many animals, such as deer, shed and renew their antlers each year. That is quite a remarkable process, when you think about it. Antlers that are so firmly attached most of the year turn on the “disconnect” switch, so to speak, lose the old, and grow back a new set of antlers in the period of a few months.
Snakes shed their entire outer skin; crayfish (arthropods) their exoskeleton shell.
Probably the most visible example that we humanoids experience is best seen by examining the grins of children at the age that they are in the 1st and 2nd grade. Teeth! A rite of passage, as the baby teeth fall out, and the larger adult teeth grow in.
The most remarkable “mutation” is not physical, but spiritual. Jesus declared that we must be “born again.” (John 3:3)
Just as my chickens are showing the signs of daily living in their shabby feathers, so we humans show the corruption that comes through our human nature. We need to shed the old nature, and put on the new.
Paul expressed it this way: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV)

Time to “molt?” Put off the old, and put on the new!

Take time to look up “New Birth” in a Bible reference.

See also:

1. 2 Cor 4:16; 5:17;
2. Gal 6:15;
3. Eph 2:10;
4. Romans 2:29; 6:4-6; 8:7-8; 8:16,17.
5. A new heart, (Eze 36:26
6. A new spirit, (Eze 11:19.

Evidenced by:

* Faith in Christ (1 Jn 5:1)
* Righteousness, (1 Jn 2:29)
* Brotherly love (1 Jn 4:7)

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

"'One thing you lack,' Jesus told the rich young man. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' At this the mans face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Read Mark 10 :17-31.)
One of the speakers at a conference on Intensive Grazing that my wife and I attended is an authority on animal behavior. Bud Williams uses a no stress method of animal handling, working with the natural instincts of the animals. Some of his methods seem strange, but they work - if you follow them! In an article in the May issue of "The Stockman Grassfarmer" Bud says, "Animals learn very fast. People don't. Most ranchers don't want you to teach them something new. They want you to show them how they can keep doing what they are doing and have a different result."
That same philosophy can be applied to people in a lot of situations. Both John the Baptizer and Jesus dealt with people who wanted assurance that they could continue doing what they were doing, and yet enter the kingdom of heaven. John preached repentance (Matthew 3:2). Jesus preached repentance (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is not just feeling bad or sorry about something you have done, but, "To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins." (American Heritage Dictionary)
Because it involves making a change in ones attitude or behavior, true repentance is not always easy. Jesus speaks to this point in Mark 10:27 - With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. These same disciples, who were astonished at Jesus doctrine, were indeed changed by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter summed up his first sermon by saying, Repent, and be baptized . . . in the Name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38
5/18/97

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

Seeds For Thinking
by Leland Hubbell

Scripture: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV)

We are often afraid of change in our lives. A new job, a changing relationship, the challenge of aging, or the loss of loved ones rank high on the list of things that create stress. Let’s face it, it is hard to let go of ‘security blankets.’ The term security blanket was popularized in the Peanuts comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, who gave such a blanket to his character Linus. Though often challenged by his sister, Lucy, Linus prefers the comfort of the blanket versus the unknown world without it. There's an old cliché that describes what we tend to do -- we choose "the devil we know" over the "devil we don't know."
Knowledge that a habit or lifestyle is not healthy or desirable is not alone sufficient reason to actively pursue change. Think about your comfort zone(s). The familiar tends to win out over the unknown. What if the new route may bring more pain, more discomfort. What if? Or, to echo the line from the Wizard of Oz,”Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my!” Fears within and without.
Over time, I have read many examples of people trapped in undesirable, even deadly, situations yet unable to escape to a new life. For example, some involved in a “battered spouse syndrome” situation feel it is more dangerous to leave than to stay - enduring a cycle of repeated battering and feigned repentance.
We can dream of what we might do, if we just had the chance. Build a fabulous career as, hmmm . . .maybe an entertainer, a TV, sports or movie star. It is one thing to dream, to suppose, to create, to forge a new pathway. Of such is invention and art composed. But, alas, many dreams are not to be, or ever to become reality.
Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes recounts the exploits of would-be knight 'Don Quixote' and his loyal servant Sancho Panza who propose to fight injustice through chivalry. Alonso Quixano, a retired country gentleman in his fifties, has become obsessed with books of chivalry, and believes their every word to be true He dons an old suit of armor, renames himself "Don Quixote de la Mancha," and imagines himself to be fighting giants when he jousts or “tilts” with windmills.
Author and cartoonist James Thurber created Walter Mitty, an ineffectual person who spends more time in heroic daydreams than paying attention to the real world, or more seriously, one who intentionally attempts to mislead or convince others that he is something that he is not. We read of people who try and fake an impressive career as a doctor or business professional, living in a world of make believe.
Are these extreme examples of living a dream? Perhaps. Yet people persist in living in a dream world, Satan’s earthly realm, the “Devil we know” world. Status attained and flouted in material things.
Through Christ, all can throw off those old things, the security blankets, that old worldly existence, and become a new creation. Behold, in Christ, all things have become new.

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http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

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Seeds for Thinking (©) 1996 - 2009 by Leland Hubbell

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