The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7 NASV).
Every person is biased. We all have our presuppositions that form the foundation of our world view. Some believe that God is not; He doesn't exist so human existence must be explained in "natural" terms. Others believe in gods or the True God of the Bible. The truth is that we live out our world view, we live out what we truly believe in. What a person does is way more important than what he says. How we live and the priorities that we have are a clear testimony of the things in which we believe. Reverence and respect for God form the foundation for a healthy life.
Our Father's Love
Tom
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
METRICS OF BEAUTY
The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti (Esther 2:17).
HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS! (Romans 10:15).
The Bible specifically describes Abraham's wife, Sarah and Isaac's wife, Rebekah as being beautiful. Oddly enough, the same Hebrew word that describes Sarah and Rebekah as beautiful also is used to Describe David. Sarah must have kept her good looks well into old age because there were a couple of kings that wanted her even when she was old. While the above text does not say Esther was beautiful it certainly leaves us with the impression that Esther was way above average in looks and grace. She was the total package, being both graceful and good-looking.
Though there are some facets of beauty that are cultural, like weight, length of neck, size of feet and body ornamentation, there are some factors that are recognized universally as being beautiful. As early as 8 months of age babies gaze much longer at symmetrical faces than asymmetrical faces. Clear skin is universally recognized as being essential to beauty. Though the roundness of a woman may be valued differently in different cultures, it is universally recognized that a waist-to-hip ratio of .70 is a metric of physical beauty in a woman. It appears that most of the women of Fox News fall into these physical metrics.
Debrahlee Lorenzana was fired from her position as a business banker for being distractingly attractive to her male colleagues (Psychology Today, 2-14). Because of our highly sexualized culture, being an attractive woman has to be difficult in the work-place, but it also has its advantages. A wise woman will, like Esther, use her beauty in such a way as to bring grace to the work-place. She has to learn how to 'express confidence and competence, to speak with certainty and demonstrate an ability to listen and be present' (PT, Flora, 2014).
Beauty can become ugly if it represents a lot of difficulty. The landscapes of America were not recognized as being beautiful until the railroads could easily carry passengers through the mountains. Prior to the railroads, mountains were obstacles that had to be conquered. As well, a beautiful woman without discretion will not keep her beauty. Forest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does," would also agree that beauty is as beauty does.
This is as true for men as it is for women, one can improve his/her looks a whole lot by cultivating the attitudes and actions that help and bless others. A rather plain-looking person becomes very attractive when grace is shown in her/his life.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS! (Romans 10:15).
The Bible specifically describes Abraham's wife, Sarah and Isaac's wife, Rebekah as being beautiful. Oddly enough, the same Hebrew word that describes Sarah and Rebekah as beautiful also is used to Describe David. Sarah must have kept her good looks well into old age because there were a couple of kings that wanted her even when she was old. While the above text does not say Esther was beautiful it certainly leaves us with the impression that Esther was way above average in looks and grace. She was the total package, being both graceful and good-looking.
Though there are some facets of beauty that are cultural, like weight, length of neck, size of feet and body ornamentation, there are some factors that are recognized universally as being beautiful. As early as 8 months of age babies gaze much longer at symmetrical faces than asymmetrical faces. Clear skin is universally recognized as being essential to beauty. Though the roundness of a woman may be valued differently in different cultures, it is universally recognized that a waist-to-hip ratio of .70 is a metric of physical beauty in a woman. It appears that most of the women of Fox News fall into these physical metrics.
Debrahlee Lorenzana was fired from her position as a business banker for being distractingly attractive to her male colleagues (Psychology Today, 2-14). Because of our highly sexualized culture, being an attractive woman has to be difficult in the work-place, but it also has its advantages. A wise woman will, like Esther, use her beauty in such a way as to bring grace to the work-place. She has to learn how to 'express confidence and competence, to speak with certainty and demonstrate an ability to listen and be present' (PT, Flora, 2014).
Beauty can become ugly if it represents a lot of difficulty. The landscapes of America were not recognized as being beautiful until the railroads could easily carry passengers through the mountains. Prior to the railroads, mountains were obstacles that had to be conquered. As well, a beautiful woman without discretion will not keep her beauty. Forest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does," would also agree that beauty is as beauty does.
This is as true for men as it is for women, one can improve his/her looks a whole lot by cultivating the attitudes and actions that help and bless others. A rather plain-looking person becomes very attractive when grace is shown in her/his life.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, April 11, 2015
NEUROPLASTICITY OR REPENTANCE?
Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
In my recreational reading I came upon the term "neuroplasticity." Neuroplasticity has to do with the ability of the mind to reorganize its self when it is pushed to do so. The brain is moldable and flexible like plastic not static and unchanging like stone. There are some areas of the brain that even generate new cells to compensate for the death of old ones or to help in the necessary reorganization tasks placed on the brain. The science of neuroplasticity has become very important to stroke recovery and even in the area of self-improvement.
It is this area of self-improvement that made me think about repentance. Metanoia is the Greek word we translate into the English word "repentance." Literally translated, metanoia simply means, "change of mind." I'm not sure that Paul had the science of neuroplasticity in mind when he spoke of repentance in the above text, but one thing is sure, if God is God and Jesus is the Judge then we all need to reorganize our thinking.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
In my recreational reading I came upon the term "neuroplasticity." Neuroplasticity has to do with the ability of the mind to reorganize its self when it is pushed to do so. The brain is moldable and flexible like plastic not static and unchanging like stone. There are some areas of the brain that even generate new cells to compensate for the death of old ones or to help in the necessary reorganization tasks placed on the brain. The science of neuroplasticity has become very important to stroke recovery and even in the area of self-improvement.
It is this area of self-improvement that made me think about repentance. Metanoia is the Greek word we translate into the English word "repentance." Literally translated, metanoia simply means, "change of mind." I'm not sure that Paul had the science of neuroplasticity in mind when he spoke of repentance in the above text, but one thing is sure, if God is God and Jesus is the Judge then we all need to reorganize our thinking.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, April 04, 2015
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS HISTORY AND HOPE
In as much as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so
that you may know the exact truth about the things which you have been taught (Luke 1: 1-4).
Luke MD, being a professional, was not easily persuaded that a dead person could raise from the dead, he had seen too much of it, but in his gospel he proclaims just that, "He has risen" (Luke 24:6). The resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, which was caused by His crucifixion, was the most essential fact that was to be believed by a Christian--if there is no resurrection, there is no Christianity (1 Corinthians 15: 16-19).
The Christian religion is a faith that is based in history. If the history is not true, neither is the faith; it has been presented that way from the beginning. There was a historical Jesus of Nazareth who performed miracles. There was a historical Pontius Pilate who ordered Jesus' execution on a cross. There was a historical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If the record is not true on one of those points, the faith is not true. Though the credibility of the Biblical record has been attacked, the credibility of the witnesses has been attacked, the attacks have failed because the Bible is true!
The faith stands true and that is why, still today, Christians are willing to die for their faith. The One who conquered death has conquered death for all believers assuring us of eternal glory.
A word of warning for non-believers, God is now declaring to all men that all people every where should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17: 30,31). While the resurrection means eternal life for some, it means eternal punishment for those who refuse to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father's Love
Tom
that you may know the exact truth about the things which you have been taught (Luke 1: 1-4).
Luke MD, being a professional, was not easily persuaded that a dead person could raise from the dead, he had seen too much of it, but in his gospel he proclaims just that, "He has risen" (Luke 24:6). The resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, which was caused by His crucifixion, was the most essential fact that was to be believed by a Christian--if there is no resurrection, there is no Christianity (1 Corinthians 15: 16-19).
The Christian religion is a faith that is based in history. If the history is not true, neither is the faith; it has been presented that way from the beginning. There was a historical Jesus of Nazareth who performed miracles. There was a historical Pontius Pilate who ordered Jesus' execution on a cross. There was a historical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If the record is not true on one of those points, the faith is not true. Though the credibility of the Biblical record has been attacked, the credibility of the witnesses has been attacked, the attacks have failed because the Bible is true!
The faith stands true and that is why, still today, Christians are willing to die for their faith. The One who conquered death has conquered death for all believers assuring us of eternal glory.
A word of warning for non-believers, God is now declaring to all men that all people every where should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17: 30,31). While the resurrection means eternal life for some, it means eternal punishment for those who refuse to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father's Love
Tom
Thursday, April 02, 2015
THE WOMEN'S WITNESS TO THE RISEN CHRIST
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord . . ." (John 20:18).
Bill O'Reilly ends his Killing Jesus with the empty tomb. On this matter there is not much disagreement among historians. The disagreement begins with the explanation as to why the tomb was empty. O'Reilly's ending satisfies Christians who believe Christ's resurrection to be the "cornerstone" of the Christian faith and non-believers who believers who believe there are other explanations for the empty tomb.
The location of Jesus' tomb was known to both friend and foe alike. There was a guard posted at the tomb so there was very little opportunity for mischief. The eleven disciples were not acting very courageously at this time. The most courageous were the women. One of the details on which all of the gospels agree is that the women were the first witnesses to the risen Christ. If the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were written to "trick" people into becoming Christians, they would not have recorded that women were the first witnesses. Back in Jesus' day women were not highly thought of a witnesses--men were the legal witnesses. To report the women* as being the first witnesses was embarrassing, which is evidence for the credibility of their testimony. Very often God uses that which is counter to conventional wisdom to make His point.
An empty tomb without a risen Christ is the death of Christianity. Tomorrow, will consider other evidence for the risen Christ.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Bill O'Reilly ends his Killing Jesus with the empty tomb. On this matter there is not much disagreement among historians. The disagreement begins with the explanation as to why the tomb was empty. O'Reilly's ending satisfies Christians who believe Christ's resurrection to be the "cornerstone" of the Christian faith and non-believers who believers who believe there are other explanations for the empty tomb.
The location of Jesus' tomb was known to both friend and foe alike. There was a guard posted at the tomb so there was very little opportunity for mischief. The eleven disciples were not acting very courageously at this time. The most courageous were the women. One of the details on which all of the gospels agree is that the women were the first witnesses to the risen Christ. If the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were written to "trick" people into becoming Christians, they would not have recorded that women were the first witnesses. Back in Jesus' day women were not highly thought of a witnesses--men were the legal witnesses. To report the women* as being the first witnesses was embarrassing, which is evidence for the credibility of their testimony. Very often God uses that which is counter to conventional wisdom to make His point.
An empty tomb without a risen Christ is the death of Christianity. Tomorrow, will consider other evidence for the risen Christ.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
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