The Creation of Man

Chapter 2

1
Thus the heavens and the earth were
finished, and all the host of them.

2
And on the
seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day
from all his work which he had made. Heb 4:4

3
And
God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:
because that in it he had rested
from all his work which God created and
made.

4
These
are the generations of the heavens
and of the earth when they were created, in
the day that the LORD God made
the earth and the heavens,

5
And every plant of the
field before it was in the earth,
and every herb of the field before it
grew: for the LORD God had not caused it
to rain upon the earth, and there
was not a man to till the ground.

6
But there went up a
mist from the earth, and watered the
whole face of the ground.

7
And the LORD God formed man
of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul. 1 Cor 15:45

8
And the LORD God planted a
garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree
that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in
the
midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

10

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and
from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

11
The name of the first is Pison: that is it which
compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

12
And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and
the onyx stone.

13
And the name of the second
river is
Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of
Ethiopia.

14
And the name of the third river is
Hiddekel: that is it
which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth
river is Euphrates.

15
And the LORD God took the man,
and put him into the
garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16
And the
LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every
tree of the garden thou mayest
freely eat:

17
But
of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for
in the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die.

18
And the LORD God said, It is
not good that the man
should be alone; I will make him an help meet for
him.

19
And out of the ground the LORD God formed
every beast
of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam
to see
what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living
creature,
that was the name thereof.

20
And Adam gave
names
to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the
field;
but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam,
and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead
thereof;

22
And the rib, which the LORD God had
taken
from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of
my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24
Therefore shall a man leave
his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be
one
flesh. Mt 19:5 Mark
10:7 1 Cor 6:16 Eph 5:31

25

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and
were not ashamed.

.
Chapter two invokes our stewardship of the land and our duties to our partner in life as wife and mother of our children. It also brings to light the distinction between good and evil and the separation of the rest of His creations from man as we have that ability to know the difference beyond an instinctive level. I believe man is born with the same instincts as his counterparts here in Eden, the desire to survive and be fruitful, basic natural instinct and without spiritual guidance evil shows a stronger hand. I hope this philosophical discussion can grow as we work our way through the Torah and the prophets with many stops along the way. I have many arguments born of The Enlightenment and my personal search for His Truth. I am not a traditional Christian, I will in the coming weeks place ideas and thoughts out there that are rather radical on the surface though deeply devoted to our Lord. I hope for the civil discussion I am unable to find in traditional Bible studies and if you have read my main blog you will know I am very conservative. I truelly hope my fellow contributers will join with me on this walk through our faith's history book and I pray others will join us as we search for His Salvation.

Evolutionary Creationism

I see the incredible brilliance and beauty of the metaphorical prose written a few millennia ago, and I understand the sheer expanse of that beauty as being far beyond comprehension.
Genesis ch.1 is the most powerful metaphor ever written, as His breath stirred the waters of Life. Clarence Darrow arguing in the defense pointed out that the Bible did not provide a time frame, as he cross examined William Jennings Bryan, the prosecuter, in the most brilliant court move of the century. I found Darrow's argument brilliant and Bryant's very uninformed and as a result I was able to reconcile my curious mind and find the Lord. How can I limit or explain what He can do? I exist and learn everyday and give thanks, that is a miracle in itself what more proof do I need? If you have ever stared into the heavens or just watched the cycle of of the seasons and the growth of little critters including our own, how could you not believe?
I as man was created by Him of the Earth and through eons He tought us about life and gave us the instincts to evolve. The greater metaphor, is we arrive blank and have to learn and His magical spell allows us to grow, the beauty is He invites us to walk with Him on that wild journey of life.

Genesis cont.

Before I write about verse two, I have some wonderful news! I have another Great Gandchild, a boy.So I have been busy helping Mom and Nana...His Name Is JC For James Carl.
they call me Great Nanny, and blessing after blessing just keeps on following me! thank God For this new Little life.

Genesis 1:
v. 1.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.



v. 2
And the earth was without form, and void; darkness was upon the face of the deep . And the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters.

If you will noticed the Earth was without form and it was void (empty): Everything was dark upon the face of the deep, until The Holy Spirit moved upon the face of the waters, bringing order out of Chaos.

Hebrews 11:
v 3.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Faith has been and will always be what marks Gods people, from the beginning of the world.I am so thankful for all of the many blessings I have been blessed with.

The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The faith of humble Christians understands this better than the fancy of the most learned men.

From what we see of heaven and earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world;

NO, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing was made without him. What high thoughts should there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the beginning of the sacred book, we read of that Divine Spirit, whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form,
and void;
it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.
(Ge 1:3-5) 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

For some reason, I never have believed In Evolution. Maybe it is because having lost my mother at the tender age of 4, I seemed to have been plugged in to God, always looking forward to that time of reunion, when this life is over on the earth, and I join her,in heaven... I guess you could say I have keept my eyes upon Jesus and my feet upon the earth since that year, 1943, when she died at the young age of 26 years.I have never doubted that God created the world. I do not know why, but I just never have not believed that I can remember...

Genesis

To be a good and true Bible study, we'll start at the Beginning and begin a great journey to Revelations to help teach our undeniable faith in the Lord, as I seek to learn from those wiser than myself !?!

Chapter 1

1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2
And the earth was without form, and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters.

3
And God said, Let there be
light: and there was light.

4
And God saw the light,
that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he
called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the
firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and
the morning were the second day.

9
And God said, Let
the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry
land appear: and it was so.

10
And God called the
dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God
saw that it was good.

11
And God said, Let the earth
bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit
after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding
seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself,
after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

13
And
the evening and the morning were the third day.

14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide
the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for
days, and years:

15
And let them be for lights in
the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16

And God made two great lights; the greater light to
rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

17
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven
to give light upon the earth,

18
And to rule over
the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God
saw that it was good.

19
And the evening and the
morning were the fourth day.

20
And God said, Let
the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl
that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21
And God created great whales, and every living creature
that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and
every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply,
and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the
living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the
earth after his kind: and it was so.

25
And God made
the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every
thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27
So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he
them. Matt 19:4 Mark
10:6

28
And God blessed them, and God said unto
them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is
upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a
tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every
thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every
green herb for meat: and it was so.

31

And God saw
every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and
the morning were the sixth day.

Besides Matt 6, this is my most read chapter. I will say I am a creational evolutionist, as an amature naturalist/geologist I love nature and the incredible forces that keep us and made us. I realize this model of creation was described 5000+ years ago without the benefit of the Hubble telescope or the electron microscope, many take this tiny fact out when analyzing their brilliance.
I rejected the Lord at first having read deeply about paleontology and geology at a young age, my 'god father' is a physicist, then I studied "The Great Monkey Trials" and Clarence Darrow destroyed my argument. I then was a lost agnostic, till Young Life entered my life as a result of all things, a divorce and a change to public from private schooling.
I was on a hike on one of those unreal autumn days when the air is electric with color from the leaves and it hit me. If the Lord created me from the dirt then evolution fits the creationist philosophy with just a major time warp, thus Intelligent design, I realized this twenty-five years ago and was the very path to my salvation in the Lord. If He meant me to evolve from a primordial muck and evolve/grow through many stages, so be it, who am I to question or limit Him ?!?

New Sunday

Well after a week we have seen some fabulous posting lets keep it up! I suggested the first area of study so I ask the other contributers if they have a particular study area or chapter or book they would like to discuss. Personally with the creationism vs Darwinism debate raging in our schools perhaps we should visit Genesis and the Torah as a whole as I was inspired by Rabbi Lapin's article I linked and dicussed yesterday in the Barnyard and I have been reading alot in the Old Testament of late in that deeper search for understanding of our world today. Karen would you like to start the next study session? And then we'll start a weekly rotation and try to maintain some continuity if this is ok with y'all. If any of y'all know a Pastor, Father or Rabbi that would like to join the discussion point them to me. I have zero experience running a Bible Study and am more of a student seeking teachers than a teacher seeking students.

From my heart

16. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I have noticed that while people are living the good times In their lives, they know and believe that Jesus Is truly with them. Then they run into the bad times.I have heard people In the midst of deep sorrow say they can no longer "feel" him. That is why we should always keep the promises of God In our hearts.

I know I have been there, and, I am sure I am not the only one!
It is then that we need to remember that He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.It's the hard times that reveal the value of our God
who never leaves us day after day.Hebrews 13:5

It is the bad times of trials and solitary struggles that other people just do not understand that will drive each individual closer to God. There he will pour out His presence, and give us wisdom that we could not have recieved anywhere else. It's anguish & sorrow that test us to the core,but, It will also teach us God is trustworthy too. It is these times that the LORD can cement our faith In Him,,,as we walk through the trials, and sorrows In our lives, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, that makes the head and the heart of the Christian understand like nothing else ever could have.

Jesus paid the terrible price, for our salvation. He was crucifed and was raised from the dead, so that you and I could stand on His promises and grow closer to Him during thos bad times. I am so thankful for his love for us all today I just want to praise Him, by sharing with you what is on my heart today. Sometimes I just have to tell someone, I Love Jesus, and I a
want to praise him all day long.This is one of those days...

JESUS PAID IT ALL
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Refrain

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Refrain

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Refrain

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Refrain

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Refrain

On Planning...And Trusting God

Proverbs 19: 21
Many plans are in a man's heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

How difficult it can be to remember the truth of this scripture. As much as we may prioritize, pray and make plans, God Himself is faithful to order our steps and make His plans stand. I think of the scripture in Jeremiah that tells us that God watches over His word to perform it in our lives.

The same God who freely gave His own Son freely gives us all things, including His plan, His vision for our lives. Whether it be our careers, our relationships, our families or our nation's leadership, all things must flow through God's hands.

As Christians, we need to be as faithful to seek God in prayer, in His word and in the community of believers. However, we must do so, trusting that ultimately He will make His will known. He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

No need to quarantine Him in matters of planning. He's been the project manager of some pretty major endeavors! :)

Hattip Karen

It is hard to follow such a great post. Thanks Karen that was wonderful ! I personally know the power of prayer as when my pops passed on and I went to my sill and knelt before Him and instantly felt His hand on my shoulder and I was comforted. I also know the power of faith and hope, from Martin Luther to John Paul II, it has the power to move billions of souls on the search for the Truth and the Truth is the Lord.

Hey, where is the rest of y'all contributers?

ON PRAYER vs.5-18

ON PRAYER, ALONE WITH GOD

Matthew 6
5.And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6.But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.


Luke 11
1. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.


Luke 18
1.And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

John 14

12.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 15

17.These things I command you, that ye love one another.

ON PRAYER, THE SECRET TO THE ANSWER TO SECRET PRAYER

Matthew 7:7-11

7.Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8.For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9.Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10.Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

THE FATHERS OMNISIENCE

Matthew 6
7. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8.Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6
25.Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Matthew 11
25.At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Romans 11
33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

ON PRAYER, THE MODEL

Matthew 6
9.After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11.Give us this day our daily bread.

12.And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Luke 11
2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

ON PRAYER, THE CONDITIONS OF ANSWERED PRAYER

Matthew 6
16. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 7
7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 17
20.And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 18
18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 21
22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Mark 9
23.Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 11
22. and Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith In God.


Jesus Christ only can teach us, by his word and Spirit, how to pray.

Father , In Jesus Name,I come boldly before the throne of grace.I know and understand that it by the influences of the Holy Spirit we are brought to know God and ourselves, to repent, believe in, and love Christ, and so are made comfortable in this world, and meet for happiness in the next. I ask you by the influences of the Holy Spirit to teach me what it is to pray; Lord, stir up and quicken me to the duty; Lord, direct me what to pray for; teach me what I should say.Amen

Verses 25-34

The final verses of Matt.6 touch exactly on Karen's excellent writing about what being a Christian is . It is about taking His hand and believing without a doubt that He is the Lord and will guide your life in the ways He needs it to go because He has a purpose and meaning for us.

33- Seek yee first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these
will be unto you.
34-Therefore take no thought for the morrow; for
the morrow shall
take thought for the things of
itself.Sufficient unto the day is
the evil there of .

These are tough verses as they put faith in a nutshell, simple yet so complex we have been discussing it for millinia. I have done my human best to believe and life is working quite well, I love my job, I have wonderful friends and family, a comfortable little house in a country town and I credit it not to me but to the Spirit He instilled in me. It has been a wild ride through every briarpatch and swamp, with their mix of characters along the way, and I could not trade the lessons He has tought me along the way. As He states in this Sermon on the Mount " The gate is not wide nor the way straight " . He wants to lead you, you have to let Him, and then build your house upon the Rock of Salvation.

How to log in to the barnyard Biblestudy

When goat sends you the invitation, click on accept, then click on I power Blogger.
Click on NEW POST on the barnyard biblestudy then post just as you do on your blog...To log on using the same one you use for your blog. I hope this helps.

The Barnyard Bible Study + 18 Oct 2005 8


ps I think I blogged the wrong chapter Goat. I am sorry.

Goat you are not the only one who prefers the King James Bible too.

I like it too. I also like the amplified because it has the Hebrew in the Old testament and the Greek in the New Testement.inclosed in ( ) or [ ] as in : Matthew 5:3-4

(AMP) 3.Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

4.Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!


comparison
(KJV)
Matthew 5:3-4

3.Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4.Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 6 (King James Version)

Matthew 6 (Amplified Bible)

just a thought or two...

All of us have pet peeves, because we are human. Because we have such a performance-oriented, work-ethic mentality of accomplishing the objectives of any task, there is a constant tendency among Christians to question their responsibilities, what they must do, to live the Christian life. It is not what we do, but what He does that constitutes the living of the Christian life. Jesus told His disciples, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Paul, a religious activist if there ever was one, admitted that "we are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God" (II Cor. 3:5).

Being the Christian we have become is not effected by increased dedication and commitment to God or the church. Nor is Christian growth and behavior enacted by "studying to show oneself approved to God" by the Gnostic acquisition of additional biblical and doctrinal knowledge. Emotional experiences do not make one a better Christian. Participation in activist causes, or serving the Lord in ministry or missions opportunities are not creditable means of enhancing the Christian life. God is "not served with human hands, as though He needed anything" (Acts 17:25). Paul credited Christ for everything in his life and ministry, when he wrote, "I do not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18)

What does it mean, then, to be a Christian? Christianity is Christ! A Christian is one in whom Jesus Christ lives by His Spirit, and one who allows the life and character of Jesus Christ to be lived out through his/her behavior, in order to function as intended to the glory of God (Isa. 43:7).

I struggle each day to keep my eyes upon Jesus because life is just as fleeting as a breath. But I know I have so much to learn,So much to let him accomplish in me, yet I know Jesus Love me, and he loves you.

A Comparison

Mark, an invited contributer who can't figure out how to log on, Karen, give him some know how I ain't got, offered a brilliant comment which I will post for him. He posts the same verses from the NLB that I did from the KJV, note how differently they read. Even as an agnostic/atheist I was sceptical of newer translations and is part of what created my internal turmoil at the time. To put it a man's perspective, the KJV is Belgian Abbey Ale compared to Natural Light.

Mark Maness said...
That passage in Matthew 6 really speaks to me. I made a post dedicated to this subject a while back. Here is an excerpt from that post:The year was 1991. America had entered the first Gulf war, Operation Desert Storm. Back in Kansas City, where I was living at the time, one wealthy woman decided to support the troops in a unique way.She went out and bought yellow ribbons. Hundreds of them. Then she wrapped them around all the trees all up and down Ward Parkway, a major thoroughfare in Kansas City, Missouri. She spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars. It was her way of showing support of the troops in Kuwait. Nice gesture, huh? Wait. There’s more to this story.Then she called up the news media, and announced what she had done to all within radio and television tower reception distance. She became a local media darling. Soon the act of showing support took second place to the act of self aggrandizement.Jesus said:

1.“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.

2. So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

3. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

4. So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” -- Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)

It has always been a pet peeve of mine when someone donates to charity and brags about it, then sits back and reaps the accolades of their peers. I have done some charitable things many times, but no one knows. No one but my ex-wife and the ones I helped, and God. And that’s the way it should be.It is a very good thing to be charitable. And if you want rewards on Earth, it is certainly a good and honorable way to receive them. It certainly beats doing evil things for attention.But if you want rewards from the only One that matters, keep your mouth shut about it.

And the same verses from the KJV, note the difference:

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Alms is prayer or sacrifice for the Lord not the needy, as that clearly socialistic version pronounces. Sorry all, such a bastardized interpretation just burns the Goats tailhairs. Yes the needy are a Christian concern though not the point or meaning of "alms".

BLESSED

I have been digging deep for this bible study and I have found some real treasures.I have been studying the sermon on the mount. KJV. MATTHEW 5:


IN THE GREEK BLESSED MEANS (HAPPY)

Jesus used it 9 times here of people who have Godly characteristics which are:

1. broken spirit ( v. 3, Matthew 11:28-30, ">Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2

2. pentinent spirit ( v.4, Isaiah 61:2, James 4:9, 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11)
TO BE CONTINUED, I AM OUT OF TIME...

The Taxpayer

Matthew as a tax collector was wealthy and could afford to follow Christ fulltime, however Jesus understood this and allowed His flock to go about their daily sustenance. As just a portion of The Sermon on the Mount, this chapter caught me, as a rebirthing Chrisian for its appeal to the personal relationship He desires with us. The entire chapter is built on that personal relationship, my variance with the Vatican, as we pray and endeavor in silence He hears us and that is all we really need to know. How does this blind faith help? It gives Hope, simple as that and so much more complicated for the simplicity. Personally my church is my garden or climbing a mountain or just watching the birds play at my feeders and now a wonderful chance to share with some virtual strangers, a quest for His guidance .

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

I use the KJV, I love the old language and its power.

More on Matthew 6

[Amplified Bible] Matthew 6:9As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's office; and He said to him, [Be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]. And he rose and followed Him.

6:19Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew was a tax collector . But he decided to leave his vocation and give his whole being to serve Jesus. He didn't allow his place In the business world , and the monetary gains he was making as a tax collector to detain him. To me that is awesome. I noticed that some of the fishermen Jesus called were occasionally fishing again but Matthew was not seen collecting taxes again. I was wondering, do you think it was because tax collectors received sinful gains from their professions?

Karen

Re- Mule Team

So Karen is the Lord then the farmer that pulls that team together? I would think so.

Goat, I used the farmer and the mules only as a illustration. I came from farming and ranching familys. My grandpa used to have a team of mules who were so stubborn he could not get them to work together, so he changed to using horses, who were't stubborn, and would obey his commands.

Yes God trys and trys to get us to to get our actions and our words In tandem,but finally he will let us do whatever we choose to do.

But honestly I find a parrellel between the mules and stubborn people who insist on doing it their way. And God being God gave us all the will to choose to do it his way or our way.

Psalm 81:12
So I gave them up to their own hearts' lust and let them go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels.
way .

Acts 19:9
But when some became more and more stubborn (hardened and unbelieving), discrediting and reviling and speaking evil of the Way [of the Lord] before the congregation, he separated himself from them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding daily discussions in the lecture room of Tyrannus from about ten o'clock till three.


Forgive me for getting off topic.Matthew 6 is a very full passage of the bible. there is so much in it. I love this prayer:

Matthew 6 9.Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.

10.Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11.Give us this day our daily bread.

12.And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven ([e]left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have [f]given up resentment against) our debtors.

13.And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Karen

Mule Team

So Karen is the Lord then the farmer that pulls that team together? I would think so.I guess that is my reading assignment for tommorrow.This is the Biblical Christian challenge I have been needing,I pray He gives me the strength to do it right.

The Closet and actions vs.words

Goat you ask

What is the "closet"? Does it mean we should be silent and pliant? Or does it mean we should let our actions speak louder than words as this predominately Christian nation's history has shown?

Matthew 6:6

I believe that the closet is a place for prayer. my closet is kneeling by my bed or couch. however I have learned thas as I get older It is easier to pray lying on my bed or my couch while I pray. ;}

There are times, when we are ask to pray for someone, and I pray for that person then. Such as when they are hospitalized. or desperately needs to here our prayer on their behalf.

( I pray everywhere also. I am sure that if i were falling in a wall upside down, I would really be praying upside down!)

does it mean we should let our actions speak louder than words as this predominately Christian nation's history has shown?

It would seem to me that our words and actions should be in tandom, as in a team of mules. If the first mule, I will call him (actions) wantst to go one way and the other mule I will call him (words) are trying to go In oposite directions, The farmer knows it and has to get them to work together In order to get anything done.

I believe that When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them. He will reward us, not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his son that serves him.

God know our hearts, and as long as we have an honest heart toward God I know he will lead us through any mistakes we make and make all things work together for our good because He loves us.Romans 8:28
Matthew Henry in his commentary says,

When the christians act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. And here is the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, one which cannot be broken. 1. Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.

I believe that. God is a good God all the time. I hope something here makes sense. just my musings.
Karen

Where To Begin,The Genesis

This is the launch date and I will improve the site as time goes on. I would like to discuss Matthew ch.6 as a starting point. I am one of those Christians that chooses my closet to the street corner or regular appearences for the social group on Sunday at the local church. What is the "closet"? Does it mean we should be silent and pliant? Or does it mean we should let our actions speak louder than words as this predominately Christian nation's history has shown?I am not a Bible expert quoter though I have read it as an atheist and a Christian and I hope to learn as much here as I have in my 25 year walk with the Lord. I was reborn in 1982 with the support of many young friends in Young Life that exercised beautiful Christian support to guide me to His hand and you can be sure I never expected this journey to be so filled with excitement and tribulation. I hope we can undertake this fantastic journey together and look forward to what I hope to be a great discussion. I intend to invite all my blogger buddies as co editors.

Update:Thanks Karen and it appears class has begun already, wow, this is great!.I like Matt. ch6 for several reasons, it affirms the personal relationship with the Lord away from the constrictions of organized worship.I have no problems with organized religion and personally lean toward the teachings of the Vatican except for their intercessionary philosophy. I believe in a close personal relationship as Christ joins with you in your journey through life on a personal level.
I know with Karen here already the site will hop, Bibles open and type away.