Vessels of Mercy

What's the point???

2010-07-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

What’s the point? Or as it is often asked, what is the meaning of life? We ask this question because we struggle to understand the purpose of our life and or the purpose of life in general.

I searched the web and found the following answers to the question, what is the meaning of life? I suspect they are fairly representative of most of the answers that people have come up with.

I noticed that all of the possibilities given for the meaning of life can be divided into about five distinct groups. See if you fit into one of these groups.

First, there are those who try not to think about the question. Either they think they are incapable of finding an answer or they are scared that they may not like the answer they would find if they searched for one. Here is a typical answer...

"The meaning of life is too large a question for me, and though I've given it thought I don't expect to ever know the answer." (L. Babauta)

Since you have taken the time to read this, I doubt that you fall into this category. You have the insight to see that this is a very important question, perhaps the most important, and burying your head in the sand is not an option for you. You desperately want to know the meaning of life.

Secondly, there are those who think the meaning of life is some specific quality or activity that we do or possess. Here are several candidates for the meaning of life that I came across...

Success, religion, love, freedom, accomplishment, exploration, learning, collecting toys, friendship, children, happiness, self, helping others, are all given as potential meanings to life.

Those are all nice things. But why is one better than another? Besides, they seem so trivial. They just don’t seem able to explain the whole meaning of anyone’s life, much less the meaning of a billion galaxies.

Thirdly, there are those who, although they do believe there is meaning to life, they do not believe that there is an absolute meaning to life. They believe the meaning of life is different for different people and that it can change over time. Here is a typical answer...

"The meaning of life is whatever you need it to be at any point in your life and can change (often many times) during the course of your life." (S. Walters)

The problem is the purpose of life had to be there at its conception. And we all have a similar conception so there must be a similar purpose for all of our lives and for life in general. The purpose for your life must be the purpose for my life.

Fourthly, there are those who say that there is no meaning to life. Meaning requires purpose, and they say that the origin of life was a random chance event void of any purpose. Here is a good explanation...

"When I look at the big, big picture, I don’t see any grand scheme, any good plan, any worthwhile explanation at all about why we’re all here and playing this ridiculous game that just seems to be one of lasting out various pain." (V. Lovic)

However, we all sense that there is a point to life. We have to convince ourselves otherwise, which usually occurs after we experience or become aware of some pain or heartache that we did not expect. But when we are in a depressed state is not the best time to make decisions of extreme importance.

I would fall into the fifth group, those who say that there is indeed an absolute meaning to life that is not based on what we do or possess. I will attempt to explain this grand purpose for all of our lives.

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Is there a point???

2010-07-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Is there a meaning of life? Before we can discern what the meaning of life is, we first have to decide whether or not there even is a meaning of life. There are only two possible answers. Either there is a point to everything, or there is no point to anything. The whole universe matters or nothing matters.

If there is no purpose for the universe, then there is no purpose for the Earth or any other planet in the universe. And if there is no purpose for the Earth, then there is no purpose for you or any other creature on Earth. And if there is no purpose for you, then there is no purpose for you to eat properly.

Likewise, it only matters that you eat properly if it matters that you even exist. And you and all the other creatures on Earth only matter if the whole Earth matters. And the Earth and all of the other planets in the universe only matter if the whole universe matters.

For example, the engine in your car only matters if the car itself matters. Not only can the engine in your car matter only if the whole car matters, but the engine must matter less than the whole car. Because the car also consists of the upholstery, paint job, and other parts. The significance of the car is the sum of the significance of the parts. The car matters more than any individual part. So, the only way that your life can matter (have a purpose) is if the whole universe matters a great deal (has a very grand purpose).

If we could show that there is a purpose for the universe as a whole, then we would know that there is a purpose for every part of the universe. And the converse is true. If we could show that there is a purpose for any part of the universe, no matter how small of a part, then we would know that everything in the universe and the universe as a whole has a purpose.

So to answer the question, is there a point to your life (does your life matter), we just need to find a point to anything at all (something that matters). If anything matters, then your life matters as well.

The interesting thing is that we all sense that there is a meaning or purpose to some things. We have to be convinced otherwise. That is why we feed the hungry, educate children, take care of pets, brush our teeth, and an endless list of other actions that show we know there is a meaning to life. The reason you are reading this is because you want to see if I can confirm what you sense is true, that there is a meaning to life.

Even the people who struggle to find a meaning to life, that seem to think there may not be one, are evidence that there is a purpose to life. They are only struggling because deep inside they know there should be a meaning to life, it is just that they are having a hard time determining what it is.

Perhaps the biggest stumbling block for those who have decided there may not be a meaning of life is this -- in order for there to be a point or purpose to your life, there has to be a point or purpose to the whole universe. And in order for there to be a point or purpose to the whole universe, there has to be someone "outside the box" of the universe who had a point or purpose for everything. There had to be a creator. And they simply don't want there to be a creator.

We don't usually start by thinking that there is no point to anything, and as a result of taking it to the logical conclusion end up thinking that there cannot be a creator. We start by thinking that there is no creator, for various reasons, and as a result of taking it to the logical conclusion end up thinking that there is no point to anything.

As we have seen, the whole universe matters or nothing matters. And the whole universe only matters if there is a creator.

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So what IS the point???

2010-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Bible says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory” (Genesis 1:1, Romans 9:23).

In other words, God's purpose in creating the universe was to create people who would know and enjoy the glory of God for eternity. Do you live for this? Do you hear this design for your life and feel a passion to pursue it?

Perhaps you feel it’s impossible for you. If that’s how you feel, please remember it is all mercy. Impossible to you, yes, but not to God. "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).

Or perhaps you don’t pursue this purpose for your life because you don’t want to see glory, you want to be glory. However, if you seek your own glory rather than seeing and savoring God’s glory, you will be bitterly disappointed in the end. Because in the end you will not be glorious, and everyone will see that and turn their face away.

Or perhaps you don’t pursue with passion to know the glory of God because you simply have no taste for it and don’t know what it is and therefore cannot feel drawn to it. To you I would say: The glory of God is shining everywhere. You live and move and have your being in God. When the psalmist says, "The heavens are telling the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1), it does not mean that sunrises and sunsets are the glory of God. It means, their magnificence across the bow of the earth, and their spectacular array of colors, and their evocative power to awaken deep emotions are tiny reflections and mere shadows of the glory to which they point. God is reaching out to us to say: it’s like this, only better – lots better!

C. S. Lewis once said: Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word glory a meaning for me. I do not see how the "fear" of God could have ever meant to me anything but the lowest prudential efforts to be safe, if I had never seen certain ominous ravines and unapproachable crags. And if nature had never awakened certain longings in me, huge areas of what I can now mean by the "love" of God would never, so far as I can see, have existed.

In other words, to you who say, you have never tasted the glory of God, I say, you have tasted many of its appetizers. Have you ever looked up? Have you ever been hugged? Have you ever admired anything? Have you ever sat in front of a warm fire? Have you ever tasted sexual desire? Have you ever walked in the woods, sat by a lake, lain in a summer hammock? Have you ever drunk your favorite drink on a hot day or eaten anything good? Every desire is either a devout or a distorted enticement to the glory of heaven.

You say you haven’t tasted God’s glory. I say. You have tasted the appetizers. Go on to the meal. You have seen the shadows; look at the substance. You have walked in the warm rays of the day; turn and look at the sun itself. You have heard echoes of God’s glory everywhere; tune your heart to the original music.

And the best place to get your heart tuned is at the cross of Jesus Christ. "We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). If you want the most concentrated display of the glory of God, look at Jesus in the Gospels, and look especially at the cross. This will focus your eyes and tune your heart and waken your taste buds so that you will see and hear and taste the glory of the true God everywhere.

That is what you were made for. I plead with you: don’t throw your life away. God made you to know his glory. Pursue that with all your heart and above all else.

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Why did the chicken cross the road?

2010-07-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

The real reason was to buy some eggs!

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"The Gospel" in Mark 1:15

2010-05-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Dispensationalists teach that "the gospel" in Mark 1:15 is a different gospel than "the gospel" in Mark 16:15. They say "the gospel" in Mark 16:15 refers to "the gospel" found in John 3:14-15, but that "the gospel" in Mark 1:15 is another gospel.

But when you harmonize Mark and John's accounts of Jesus' life, it appears that Jesus said John 3:14-15...

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

BEFORE He said Mark 1:15...

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

John 3:14-15 records something Jesus said before John was put in prison while Mark 1:15 records something Jesus said after John was put in prison. So it would seem that "the gospel" in Mark 1:15 is the one and only gospel, "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures".

John 3:14-24
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ... After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.

Mark 1:14-15
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

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Add a Bite to our Barking!

2010-05-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

I sent the following email to the host of the "Christian Worldview Today" talk radio show, but got no response. Perhaps this message was meant for YOU instead!

Tony,

Perhaps the reason that the Washington officials are not heeding our barking about the government takeover of healthcare is because they know that we do not have a bite.

Socialism is being forced on America, but it did not start with our soon-to-be nationalized healthcare. In fact, our healthcare system is not as socialized as it could be.

We are currently forced to buy healthcare, but we do not yet have single-payer healthcare (where the government pays for all the healthcare), and we do not yet have a single-owner healthcare system (where the government owns all the hospitals). And the hospitals do not indoctrinate us.

If we are really opposed to our slide into socialism, rather than pouring some tea into a few rivers over our concern about socialized healthcare, we should stop using the socialized public school system!

Like the healthcare system, we are required to send our children to the public school system (so most people seem to think), which already has a single-payer, and already has a single-owner, and already is an indoctrination chamber.

For the healthcare system to be as socialist as the public school system, all the hospitals would have to be owned by the government with the services paid by our taxes, and when you went in to a doctor's office they would indoctrinate you about the values of homosexuality, abortion, etc. So as you can see, our healthcare system is not near as socialized as our public school system.

So, if we are truly against socialism, our first action should be to stop using the public school system. After we have done that, we can throw some tea in the river and it may mean something.

I am amazed that with all the barking on your show about socialism, I have yet to hear anyone mention the public school system and just how socialized that institution is.

I am challenging you to be the first. Just as that one man seems to have started all the tea parties with his rant about government payouts, you could be the one to start the movement to TAKE OUR CHILDREN OUT OF SOCIALIST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE FALL!

You could be the spark!

God bless you.

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Did Jesus Have An Origin?

2010-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

We have been debating with some Jehovah's Witnesses about the nature of Jesus. We believe the Bible teaches that Jesus had no beginning (that He has always existed), whereas the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus had a beginning (an origin).

The Jehovah's Witnesses official website says... Jesus’ life course might be divided into three stages. The first began long before his human birth. His origin was "from early times, from the days of time indefinite," says Micah 5:2.

The Jehovah's Witnesses Translation says... And you, O Beth´le·hem Eph´ra·thah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite.

If that is what Micah 5:2 actually said, maybe Jesus did have an origin. But that has not been the standard English interpretation of that verse in the past.

The King James Version says... But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.

The King James Version makes it clear that Jesus had no beginning, no origin, and that He is everlasting. Jesus has always been "going forth".

But I am troubled by some of the newer translations. For example, the English Standard Version seems to side with the Jehovah's Witnesses Translation on this verse.

The English Standard Version says... But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Are you disturbed by the English Standard Version rendering of Micah 5:2?

What motive did the translators of the English Standard Version have to render Micah 5:2 that way?

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"Pivotal Passage" Ezekiel 17:22

2010-02-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

When you are given a list of turns and distances to a particular destination, getting the first turn right is the most critical. If you make a wrong last turn, you may only end up on the wrong street. Whereas if you make a wrong first turn, you could end up in another state. The same is true with various Bible passages. If you get some passages wrong, you will have only slightly different views. But if you get the “pivotal passages” wrong, you will end up with a completely different “big picture” in many cases.

Ezekiel 17:22 is one of the "pivotal passages" in the Bible because what you believe the phrase "his young twigs" in that verse is referring to will greatly affect what you believe about the historical and prophetical portions of the Bible.

Ezekiel chapter 17 records a riddle of the Lord. We are given the interpretation of the first part of the riddle, but we are not given the interpretation of the last part of the riddle.

Ezekiel 17:3-4 Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

Ezekiel 17:12 Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

We are told that "the highest branch" is referring to "the king" (King Zedekiah) and that "his young twigs" is referring to "the princes" (the children of King Zedekiah).

So now we come to the "pivotal passage", verse 22. The Lord gives us more of the riddle without giving us the interpretation.

Ezekiel 17:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

According to the natural reading of this passage, "the highest branch" in verse 22 must be referring to King Zedekiah and "his young twigs" must be referring to his children. Keep this in mind when you are searching for a commentary to tell you what this passage means.

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"Pivotal Passage" Daniel 8 & 9

2010-01-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

When you are given a list of turns and distances to a particular destination, getting the first turn right is the most critical. If you make a wrong last turn, you may only end up on the wrong street. Whereas if you make a wrong first turn, you could end up in another state. The same is true with various Bible passages. If you get some passages wrong, you will have only slightly different views. But if you get the “pivotal passages” wrong, you will end up with a completely different “big picture” in many cases.

Daniel 8 & 9 is one of the "pivotal passages" in the Bible because what you believe the phrase "the vision" in Daniel 9:23 is referring to will greatly affect what you believe about the historical and prophetical portions of the Bible.

In order to understand a passage in the Bible we have to accomplish two things…

(#1) We must be able to understand what the Bible passage says, and the translators have helped by creating versions in our native tongue.

(#2) We must be able to understand what the Bible passage means, and this is where commentaries can come in handy.

We often expect the clergy to be better at knowing what a passage means (#2 above) because they have had extensive training. This may be the case. But we all have a good chance at knowing what it says (#1 above). It is our job to make sure that what we are told the passage means matches up with what it says. If a commentator (no matter how eloquent or famous) tells you a passage means something that does not align with what it says, I would suggest seeking another answer.

So I ask you, when you read Daniel chapters 8 & 9 in one reading, do you agree that the plain meaning implies that the prophecy recorded in Daniel 9:24-27 is somehow connected to the vision recorded in Daniel 8?

I believe that “the vision” in Daniel 9:23 and “the vision” in Daniel 9:21 both refer to the vision of Daniel 8, since that agrees with the natural reading of the text and because Daniel 9:24-27 (the only other thing "the vision" in Daniel 9:23 could possibly be referring to) records a prophecy and not a vision.

(Daniel 9:21-23) Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Daniel was greatly distressed by the vision of Daniel 8 and did not understand it. I believe Daniel 9:21-23 says that Gabriel is coming to help Daniel understand the vision of Daniel 8 by giving him a prophecy. Somehow, the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 must help explain the vision of Daniel 8.

Now, when you read commentaries that attempt to explain what Daniel 8 & 9 means, make sure it matches up with what the passage says (that the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 helps to explain the vision of Daniel 8).

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Correlate Daniel 8 & 9

2010-01-29T09:43:00.000-08:00

Part of the process of determining what a passage says is to correlate the various Bible passages that deal with the same subject. We need to determine which verse in one passage correlates with which verse in another passage. I have correlated the vision of Daniel 8 and the prophecy of Daniel 9 below. Notice that the ending of the prophecy of Daniel 9 correlates with the ending of the vision of Daniel 8...

Daniel 8 Complete Vision

Interpretation of Vision

8:3: Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

8:20: The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

8:5: And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

8:21: And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

8:8: Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

8:22: Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

8:9: And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

8:23: And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

8:11: Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

8:24: And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

8:12: And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

8:25: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Daniel 8 Vision Ending

Daniel 9 Prophecy Ending

8:11: Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host...

9:25: Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

8:11: ...and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

9:26: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

8:11: ...and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away...

9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease...

8:12: And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

9:27: ...and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

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Am I a Calvinist?

2010-01-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

Am I a Calvinist, you ask. This is a common question among Christians. My first reaction to this question is that I become very uneasy since it seems very similar to when the Corinthians were saying “I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas.” The truth is that all Christians are “in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” We are not “of” anyone else.

Now I know that people are not asking “are you of Calvin” when they ask “are you a Calvinist”, but the plain meaning of such a question seems to mean that you agree with everything that Calvin says. If I knew everything that Calvin believed, I am sure that I would disagree with some of his teachings. So no, I am not a Calvinist if that means that I agree with everything Calvin said.

In actuality, I think what people are asking when they ask “are you a Calvinist” is “do you believe the TULIP”, the acronym for Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints. They are not asking, I think, if you agree with everything Calvin taught. But in that case, it would seem more proper to be called a TULIPist and not a Calvinist.

Am I a TULIPist, you ask. The plain meaning of such a question seems to mean that you are asking if I believe that the TULIP gives the best description of the way things are. Although the TULIP is fairly eloquent in describing the way things are, I believe there is a much better explanation. I guess I must call it the FPCJG, the acronym for Foreknow, Predestinate, Called, Justified, and Glorified.

The Bible says “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

That passage in Romans 8 seems to be the clearest and simplest explanation of the ways things are. So I guess I would say I am a FPCJGist!

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Calvinism is OK

2010-01-27T05:47:00.000-08:00

I received this response to my post Am I a Calvinist?...

I think that anyone who asks that question is 99% of the time asking it in the sense of TULIP/Sovereignty of God. Most people don’t have any idea what other beliefs Calvin had. Culturally I think that the term Calvinism has become synonymous with the Sovereignty of God in the salvation of men – they have come to mean the same thing. So my view is… you know how the question is asked and what it means in the Christian culture… so that’s what I mean when I respond that I’m a Calvinist, not that I believe or ascribe to any of his other beliefs.

Under that definition of Calvinism, I am a Calvinist. But I do not think the belief in the sovereignty of God should be attached to a man. And it even seems odd that Calvin was chosen.

It is true that the term Calvinism has become synonymous with the Sovereignty of God in the salvation of men as defined in the TULIP. If you discuss Calvinism with anyone the TULIP will come up.

But Calvin did not come up with the acronym. Best I can tell, the acronym TULIP was thought up by Cleland Boyd McAfee in 1905 (about 340 years after Calvin died). So if the term Calvinism really means an agreement with the TULIP, then it would be better called McAfeeism.

Now the original five points derived to counter Arminianism were produced by the Synod of Dort (about 55 years after Calvin died). So if the term Calvinism really means an agreement with those five points, then it would be better called Dortism.

If the term Calvinism really means an agreement with the Sovereignty of God in the salvation of men, then it would be more appropriate to be called Sovereigntyism.

Although I consider myself a Calvinist (if that means I believe in the sovereignty of God in the salvation of men), I personally prefer Romans 8:29-30 over the TULIP to describe what I believe.

From now on, when I am asked "Are you a Calvinist", I think I will answer "I acknowledge the sovereingty of God."

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What's a Patriarch?

2008-07-25T11:56:00.001-07:00

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Reformed Dispensationalism

2008-07-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

What??? You are likely familiar with Progressive Dispensationalism, but are you aware of Reformed Dispensationalism?

Progressive Dispensationalism teaches that the Church partially fulfills the New Covenant now and that Israel will completely fulfill the New Covenant in the future. This is how Robert Saucy (professor at Talbot School of Theology) describes the two dispensations of the New Covenant...

"The present operation of the new covenant in saving Jews and Gentiles in the church is not the complete fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. The return of Christ will bring further fulfillment. Because the New Testament clearly envisions a future for historical Israel, it seems reasonable to expect the coming of Christ to bring about the fulfillment of the salvation provisions of the new covenant that related particularly to that people." source

Reformed Dispensationalism teaches that the Visible Church partially fulfills the New Covenant now and that the Invisible Church will completely fulfill the New Covenant in the future. This is how Richard Pratt (president of Third Millennium Ministries) describes the two dispensations of the New Covenant...

"Once Christ returns it will not be possible to break the new covenant and thereby to enter into another exile. Before that time, however, participants in the new covenant can break the new covenant." source

I do not agree with either form of Dispensationalism and will elaborate on another post.

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Behavioral Causes of Preventable Death

2008-06-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

Lifestyle choices or modifiable, behaviors are major causes of mortality in the United States. A lifestyle choice or modifiable behavior is something that a person has some control over whether or not he or she will do that behavior.
In 2000 well over a third of all deaths in the United States could be attributed to a limited number of largely preventable behaviors and exposures including smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity and alcohol consumption.

Changing these modifiable behaviors can increase a person's life expectancy or longevity and prevent early deaths.

1. Tobacco Use (Smoking)
Tobacco use (smoking) resulted in 435,000 deaths or 18.1% of the total deaths.

2. Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity
Poor diet and physical inactivity lead to 365,000 deaths or 15.2% of the total deaths.
This is a corrected value from the often cited originally published and later corrected, incorrect values of 400,000 and 16.6%.

3. Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption resulted in 85,000 deaths or 3.5% of the total deaths.

4. Microbial Agents
Microbial agents resulted in 75,000 deaths or 3.1% of the total deaths.

5. Toxic Agents
Toxic agents resulted in 55,000 deaths or 2.3% of the total deaths.

6. Motor Vehicle Crashes
Motor vehicle crashes resulted in 43,000 deaths or 1.8% of the total deaths.

7. Incidents Involving Firearms
Incidents involving firearms resulted in 29,000 deaths or 1.2% of the total.

8. Sexual behaviors
Sexual behaviors resulted in 20,000 deaths or 0.8% of the total.

9. Illicit Use of Drugs
Illicit use of drugs resulted in 17,000 deaths or 0.7% of the total deaths.

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Health Risks of Exclusive Pipe Smoking

2008-06-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Exclusive pipe smoking confers a risk of tobacco-associated disease similar to that of cigar smoking but less than that of cigarette smoking, according to the results of a prospective cohort trial published in the June 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Although many studies have examined the adverse health effects of pipe smoking combined with other forms of tobcco use, few have included large numbers of exclusive pipe smokers," write S. Jane Henley, from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, Georgia, and colleagues. "The prevalence of pipe smoking has declined since the 1960s, yet usage is still common regionally, especially among older populations."
Previous studies of exclusive pipe smoking were small and could not exclude potential confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status and alcohol use. Pipe tobacco is the least commonly used tobacco product in the U.S., with overall use decreasing from 14% in 1965 to 2% in 1991. However, pipe smoking remains common among the American Indians and some other populations, and it has been increasing among American middle and high school students since 1999.

Of 138,307 men enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II, 15,263 men were current or former pipe users, and 123,044 men had never used tobacco. During the 18-year follow-up, there were 23,589 deaths. Based on this mortality data, the investigators compared the risks of death from nine cancers (bladder, colon/rectum, esophagus, kidney, larynx, lung, oropharynx, pancreas, and stomach) and three other diseases (coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in exclusive pipe smokers with mortality risks in nonsmokers.

Compared with never use of tobacco, current pipe smoking was associated with an increased risk of death from cancers of the lung (relative risk [RR], 5.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.16 - 6.01), oropharynx (RR, 3.90; 95% CI, 2.15 - 7.08), esophagus (RR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.51 - 3.95), colorectum (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.15 - 1.73), pancreas (RR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.24 - 2.09), and larynx (RR, 13.1; 95% CI, 5.2 - 33.1), and from coronary heart disease (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.18 - 1.43), cerebrovascular disease (RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.09 - 1.48), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR, 2.98; 95% CI, 2.17 - 4.11).

Risks associated with pipe smoking were smaller than those associated with cigarette smoking but similar to those associated with cigar smoking.
Factors associated with increased relative risk of lung cancer were number of pipes smoked per day, years of smoking, and depth of inhalation, whereas increased number of years since quitting was associated with decreased risk.
A study limitation was that smoking habits were reported only at baseline.
"All tobacco products cause excessive morbidity and mortality," the authors write. "Comprehensively documenting the deleterious health effects of pipe smoking is important in countering efforts by the tobacco industry to promote pipes as a desirable alternative to cigarettes or cigars."

Here is some more information on the subject written by a pipe-smoker and not by a doctor. "It is intended to provide information which might be helpful to pipe-smokers who, like myself, wish to continue to smoke, but who want to do as much as they can to avoid getting a pipe-smoking related illness."

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The Priesthood of Believers

2008-06-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 2:5-10
5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6: Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8: And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Old Testament priests were chosen by God, not self-appointed; and they were chosen for a purpose: to serve God with their lives by offering up sacrifices. The priesthood served as a picture or "type" of the coming ministry of Jesus Christ--a picture that was then no longer needed once His sacrifice on the cross was completed. When the thick temple veil that covered the doorway to the Holy of Holies was torn in two by God at the time of Christ's death, God was indicating that the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Now people could come directly to God through the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. There are now no earthly mediators between God and man as existed in the Old Testament priesthood.

Christ our High Priest has made one sacrifice for sin for all time, and there is no more sacrifice for sin that can be made. But as priests once offered other kinds of sacrifices in the temple, so it is clear from the passage above that God has chosen Christians "to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." The passage speaks of two aspects of the priesthood of the believer.

The first is that believers are privileged. To be chosen by God to be a priest was a privilege. All believers have been chosen by God: a "chosen generation...His own special people" (verse 9). In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, there were places where only the priests could go. Into the Holy of Holies, behind a thick veil, only the High Priest could go, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made a sin offering on behalf of all of the people. But as mentioned above, because of Jesus' death upon the cross of Calvary, all believers now have direct access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ our great High Priest. What a privilege to be able to access the very throne of God directly, not through any earthly priest. When Christ returns and the New Jerusalem comes to earth, believers will see God face-to-face and will serve Him there. Again, what a privilege especially for us who were once "not a people" ... "without hope" ... destined for destruction because of our sin.

The second aspect of the believer's priesthood is that we are chosen for a purpose: to offer up spiritual sacrifices, and to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Thus, by both life and by word, our purpose is to serve God. As the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so God has called us to serve Him from our hearts by first of all offering our lives as living sacrifices. One day we will be serving God in eternity, but not in any temple, for "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple". As the Old Testament priesthood was to be free of defilement, as symbolized by being ceremonially clean, so has Christ made us holy positionally before the Father. He calls on us to live holy lives that we might also be a "holy priesthood".

Charles Spurgeon said it this way...
All of you, who are in Christ Jesus, are the living stones in this spiritual temple; and you are also priests, who offer up spiritual sacrifices. You need no material temple, for you are yourselves the temple. You need no other priest save the great High Priest who has gone into the heavenly, for you are yourselves priests unto the Most High God.

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Should we drink wine and strong drink?

2008-06-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Just as priests under the Old Covenant abstained from wine and strong drink in the tabernacle of God (as God instructed), it would seem that the priests under the New Covenant should abstain from wine and strong drink in the temple of God (thereby glorifying God in your body).

Let me explain. A passage often used to show that we may drink wine and strong drink is found in Deuteronomy 14 where the people in Old Testament Israel were told...

Deuteronomy 14:22-26
22: Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23: And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. 24: And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 25: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: 26: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

This says that the people in Old Testament Israel were allowed to drink wine and strong drink. However, these people were also told...

Deutoronomy 21:15-17
15: If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: 16: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: 17: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

This says that the people in Old Testament Israel were allowed to have multiple wives but they were to give the double portion to the firstborn son, regardless of which wife is his mother. And they were told...

Deutoronomy 21:10-14
10: When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, 11: And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; 12: Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; 13: And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. 14: And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

This says that people in Old Testament Israel were allowed to take a wife from among their captives and divorce her if she does not delight them. And they were told...

Deutoronomy 24:1
1: When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

This says that people in Old Testament Israel were allowed to divorce their wife if she finds no favour in their eyes, as long as she is given a letter of divorcement. In contrast, Jesus said...

Matthew 19:4-6
4: And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5: And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6: Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Why were the people in Old Testament Israel allowed to do something that Jesus forbids? We are told...

Matthew 19:7-8
7: They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

There are two main reasons that we should not use the ceremonial law in Old Testament Israel as the ultimate guide for our actions. One reason is that the people in Old Testament Israel were allowed to do some things because of the hardness of their hearts and not because it was God's original design.

The second reason is that we should not relate with the Israelites in Old Testament Israel. Rather, we should relate with the priests in Old Testament Israel. Under the New Covenant...

1 Peter 2:5-9
5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6: Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8: And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Whereas the people in Old Testament Israel were allowed to drink wine and strong drink, the priests were not allowed to drink in the tabernacle...

Leviticus 10:8-10
8: And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9: Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Under the New Covenant, we are priests and our bodies are the temple of God...

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17: If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Just as priests under the Old Covenant abstained from wine and strong drink in the tabernacle of God (as God instructed), it would seem that the priests under the New Covenant should abstain from wine and strong drink in the temple of God (thereby glorifying God in your body).

Praise God that under the New Covenant the hardness of our hearts has been changed…

Ezekiel 36:26-27
26: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

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