Colossians, part 1

Colossians, part 1

Colossians was written by St. Paul to the Christians at Colosse. Paul had not visited Colosse, but he often prayed for the Christians there. In fact he says early on in his letter (1:9) that he had not stopped praying for them. This is a short book and you can easily read it straight through.

Paul reminded the Christians about the importance of Jesus. Jesus is God, and He created everything.  Jesus became a man so that He could die for us and because Jesus paid our “death debt”, God will accept us. He forgives us our sins and accepts us. If we invite Jesus into our lives, we will become friends of God (Colossians 1:15-23).

Then, Paul warned the Christians about some people (Colossians 2). These people wanted the Christians to obey the ancient rules of the Hebrew nation. And these people said that real Christians must obey all such rules. Paul did not agree.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Christians ought to obey Christ, instead of tradition. Traditions might seem wise, but they cannot help us to live good lives .

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Animals in the Bible - Cankerworms and Locusts

Chapter 9 –Cankerworms and Locusts

Cankerworms are mentioned in the Old Testament books of Nahum and Joel.  In Joel chapter 1 we read a strange prediction:

 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

There was an actual plague of locusts in the land that historians can verify. All of chapter 1 of Joel deals with an actual ancient event. The palmerworm, locust, cankerworm and caterpillar are all developmental stages of the desert locust which as recently as 1915 devastated Palestine.

Early Science Fails, part 3

Here are three more amazing scientific discoveries that were made first by those who studied the Bible.

Light moves. Yes, that’s right. It’s not in a fixed place. Job 38: 19-20 says “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?”

Early astronomers thought that all stars were identical. Now they’ve “discovered” that each one is unique. Hmm, should have read 1st Corinthians: “The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor”.

Speaking of stars, Ptolemy catalogued around 1100 stars and for centuries men believed that there couldn’t be any more than that. Naturally the Bible refers to stars as being “countless” or innumerable. Science now agrees with that.

Animals in the Bible - Camels

Chapter 8 – Camels

For some reason camels come off as pretty likable animals even though they’re ornery, spit a lot, and are not known for being pleasurably aromatic.

Bible facts about the camel:

1.   The camel is unclean because it chews its cud and has a divided hoof and therefore cannot be eaten (Leviticus 11:4).

2.   There is no mention of camels being with the wise men though every manger scene includes them.

3.   Camels were considered “booty”, a great prize to steal from the enemy (Jeremiah 40:32).

4.   There was a plague associated with them (Zechariah 14:15).

5.   There were so many camels belonging to the Midianites and the Amalekites that they couldn’t count them (Judges 7:12).

6.   John the Baptist had a coat made of camel hair (Matthew 3:4).

Early Science Fails, part 2

Last week I posted some fascinating facts from the Bible that were written thousands of years before the scientific community presented their opposite views and then revised them (maybe unknowingly) to be aligned with the Bible.

Here are three more:

Long ago scientists believed that oceans were fed only by rivers and rain. It wasn't until the 1970’s that it was discovered there are springs in the ocean floor. The Bible gives testimony of ocean springs in Job (the springs of the sea) and Proverbs (the fountains of the deep) and Genesis (the fountains of the great deep).

Additionally scientists used to believe that the ocean floor was flat.

Cover Reveal - A SOUL'S KISS

Coming March 15, 2014 from Creative Prose Publishing, the newest novel from international author Debra Chapoton:

When a tragic accident leaves Jessica comatose, her spirit  escapes her body. Navigating a supernatural realm is tough, but being half dead has its advantages.

      

Like getting into people’s thoughts.

Like taking over someone’s body.

Like experiencing romance on a whole new plane - literally.

Jessica learns an amazing truth as she struggles to return to her body before the doctors pull the plug, only she can’t do it alone. Now the only two people willing to help Jessica’s splintered soul are the two she’s hurt the most. They must find a way to guide her soul back to her body ... before it’s too late.

Sign up for the new release newsletter to be informed of the release of Debra's book at Creative Prose Publishing. You can find CPP at their blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Interested in reviewing the book? Email CPP at admin@creativeprosepublishing.com with a link to your blog or site to receive a PDF for review.

Animals in the Bible - Bulls, Bullocks, and Calves

Chapter 7 – Bulls, Bullocks, and Calves

Bulls. bullocks (young castrated bulls), and calves are mentioned in 17 of the 39 books of the Old Testament, but in only 4 New Testament books. Calves are referred to as meat for feasts, as images of idol worship, and as sacrifices. But in nearly every verse that names bulls and bullocks they are used as sin offerings, meat offerings, burnt offerings – a sacrifice. Their innocent blood was used continually to cover the sins of the people of Israel. Here’s an example from the Torah:

Exodus 29:12, 14: And you shall take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.

But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.

But when the Messiah arrived, he became the high priest and bypassed the old tabernacle and the altar and went straight into heaven’s true Holy Place, once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of the blood of bulls, bullocks, and calves, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free from our sins. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in covering the sins of the Israelites, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, far, far superior to bulls, bullocks, and calves.

Early Science Fails, part 1

I have found some fascinating facts in the Bible that were written thousands, yes THOUSANDS, of years before the scientific community presented their opposite views and then more recently “saw the light” and have aligned themselves with the Bible.

Here are the first four:

In Leviticus, the third book of the Old Testament, it says “for the life of the flesh is in the blood”. Yet doctors began the practice of “bloodletting” as early as the fifth century B.C. and it continued up until the end of the nineteenth century. Finally the medical community determined that the practice was harmful.

Until recently scientists believed that air didn't weigh anything.

Animals in the Bible - the Unicorn

Chapter 6 - the Unicorn

Unicorns are mentioned 9 times in the Bible, at least in the King James Version. Now before you use this information to claim that the Bible is a book of myths and legends let’s look at the original word. In the Hebrew the word is re’em which is defined in Strong’s Concordance as unicorn, with a note that it is probably the great auroch or wild bull which is now extinct. It further states that the exact meaning is not known. Interestingly enough the first Webster’s dictionary of 1828, which you can access online, says this

U'NICORN, n. [L. unicornis; unus, one, and cornu, horn.]
1. an animal with one horn; the monoceros. this name is often applied to the rhinoceros.

So if the unicorn refers to a rhinoceros it would stand to reason that the 1828 definition of that animal would be parallel.

When You Are Facing Danger

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Because I love words, and because sometimes things get lost in translation, let’s take a close look at the original Hebrew of the four words I put in red above.

Yashab is translated in most Bible versions as dwells, meaning lives in, inhabits, remains. Shelter is a less poetic translation of the Hebrew and the original gives a more romantic feel: secret places. The underlying premise is that you don’t occasionally visit the shelter (or secret places) of the Most High, but you constantly remain there. It follows then that you will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Rest is from the Hebrew word luwn which is more often translated as remain or abide or literally to continually lodge. Now you have a comforting picture of constantly living in the secret sheltered place of Almighty God where you can fully abide.

He can be your refuge and your fortress. These two words are exactly what they seem to be. A refuge is a sanctuary, safe haven, shelter or retreat. A fortress is a stronghold, a well defended place of protection.

This is an excellent Psalm to read and study when you are in need of emotional and spiritual strength. Here is Psalm 91 in the most terrifically modern version I could find, The Message:

91 ^1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.    I trust in you and I’m safe!”That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,    shields you from deadly hazards.His huge outstretched arms protect you—    under them you’re perfectly safe;    his arms fend off all harm.Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,    not flying arrows in the day,Not disease that prowls through the darkness,    not disaster that erupts at high noon.Even though others succumb all around,    drop like flies right and left,    no harm will even graze you.You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,    watch the wicked turn into corpses.Yes, because God’s your refuge,    the High God your very own home,Evil can’t get close to you,    harm can’t get through the door.He ordered his angels    to guard you wherever you go.If you stumble, they’ll catch you;    their job is to keep you from falling.You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.^14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.I’ll give you the best of care    if you’ll only get to know and trust me.Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.I’ll give you a long life,    give you a long drink of salvation!”

Animals in the Bible - Birds

Chapter 5 – Birds

Birds are mentioned numerous times in the Old and New Testaments. There are even specific references to particular birds such as the partridge, quail, pigeon, dove, rooster, cormorant, swallow or crane, eagle or vulture, ibis, osprey, ostrich, pelican, raven, stork, and swan. Some birds were clean, i.e. acceptable for eating or sacrifices, and some were unclean. Accordingly birds of prey and most of the water-fowl were considered unclean.

These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,  the vulture, the black vulture,  the red kite, any kind of black kite,  any kind of raven,  the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,  the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,  the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,  the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Since there are many, many references to birds and their ways, habitants, purposes, etc., I’m going to feature only my favorites – the eagle and the dove.

The eagle is mentioned 30 times in the Old Testament and from reading those specific verses we get a picture of a bird that is extremely swift, powerful, regal, and exalted. In Ezekiel 10:14 a strange wheel is described:

And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

Compare that to Revelation4:7 where four beasts are described:

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

There is an interesting study of the spiritual meaning of eagles here.

The Bible presents the dove as peaceful, having a mournful cry, attractive eyes, and beautiful wings. In Song of Songs “my dove” is a term of endearment and in Matthew and John it is recorded that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus “like a dove”, giving the impression of a fluttery, gentle landing. The book of Luke alters the description only in saying that the Holy Ghost descended in “bodily shape like a dove”, confusing many people to think that it was actually a dove.

After Jesus was born Mary and Joseph went to the temple and made the appropriate sacrifice: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (doves). A helpful discussion of the symbolism of doves in the Bible can be found here.

Homophobia

Christians get a bad rap since the term homophobia  is applied all too often to them when they are only trying to follow God’s word. 

Christians are not homophobic – in fact they love homosexuals, but believe that sodomy is a sin.

Animals in the Bible - Beetles and Flies

Chapter 4 –Beetles and Flies

In ancient Egypt the beetle was revered. The scarab beetle was a metaphor for the entombing and resurrection of their mummies and hence became a symbol of rebirth. The beetle is only mentioned once in the entire Bible, in Leviticus, as something we are allowed to eat. Yuck.

Flies, however, are mentioned several times.