1 Pet. 2:20ff
"For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for
your faults, ye shall take it patiently, but if when ye do well, and
suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps:
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
who when he was reviled, reviled not again,
when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed."
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Jesus is the Light
Volcano eruption in Chile.
John 1:3-5
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
-----------------------
Everything was made through Jesus. Nothing was made without Him. This, of course, shows that Jesus Himself is not a created being. How could He be created through Himself?
The easiest thing is to think that He was not created, but rather is God Himself. He is the Creator, and He didn't create Himself.
Of course it makes sense that He has life in Him. He didn't get life from somewhere else. Life belongs to Him. It is His because of who He is. He is God.
It is not a life that is only for Himself. It is life that is shared with people. His coming to earth as a man was like a light to us. People actually saw God walking around in a body. It's not that He had some weird glow coming out of Him. That's not how He showed His light. Rather, people could see how He lived; what He did; where He went; how He reacted to people; what was important to Him; and most of all, how He died on the cross, bearing our sins in His own body.
When we believe in Him, we have His life in us.
The darkness doesn't understand it. Who or what is the darkness? Well, for one thing, it is Satan and his demons. They never understood Jesus. If they had, they never would have killed Him. They would have protected Him from death, since His death sealed their doom.
The darkness is also a reference to unbelievers. They can't figure Jesus out. They might think He was a good man. They might think He was a kook. They might have religious feelings about Him - as well as Buddha, Krishna, and Mohammed. They don't know who He is, though.
Jesus knew who He was. The darkness couldn't destroy Him. He destroyed the darkness.
How did He destroy it? Again, by being who He was and doing what He did.
Please consider the words of the Bible. Ask Jesus, who is the Light, to shine in your darkness. Read the book of John in the New Testament. Ask God to help you understand. You won't be sorry.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Good News About Injustice
Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World (Current Issues, Missions)
by Intervarsity Press
If you are involved at all in cross-cultural missions in any way, you really must read this book. Haugen was sent to Rwanda in 1994 as the director of the UN genocide investigation in Rwanda. After Haugen returned from there, his life was never the same again. His suburban lifestyle had been shaken up for good after he found himself, "standing in the middle of several thousand corpses in a muddy mass grave in a tiny African country called Rwanda?" (p. 21)
Instead of becoming bitter and pessimistic about the horrible conditions in the world and the terrible injustices, He started The International Justice Mission.
This is not an agenda-driven, politically correct organization that is concerned only with the injustices done to one class of people. Their work helps anyone they are able to help. They work through the legal systems, defending cases in the courts of the countries where their clients live. These are not your stereotypical attorneys, but are men and women who fight for justice on a case by case basis.
Their only agenda is justice for the oppressed while showing Christlike compassion.
Here are some quotes to give you the idea of what this man and his mission are about.
From chapter 1 - The Rage in Rwanda - A Suburban Christian Confronts Genocide
ASCENSION: COMING BACK FROM A HELL ON EARTH
Here Haugen compares some of his experiences in third world situations to Christ's Ascension from the earth, full of sinfulness, to Heaven.
"I have traveled from the slippery mud and corpses of mass graves in Rwanda to my usual seat at the right hand of my neighbor on our dependably boring and climate-controlled bus ride to my office in Washington, D.C. I remember reclining on a comfortable living-room couch, among friends and family in California, talking about soaring real estate values in Orange county when only days before I had been exhuming the remains of a woman raped and butchered by soldiers in the Philippines. Similarly, I recall watching from my train window as a low summer sun cast a Norman Rockwell glow across Little League fields in Connecticut when only days before I had been in a country where boys of a similar age but of a different color were being beaten like animals by the South African police."
He says that he felt the urge to make an announcement to his fellow commuters about what was happening in Rwanda. This urge, "came not from a desire to shock them but from a desire to somehow affirm for myself the human reality and relevance of my own experience. Could it really be true, and could it really have anything to do with me...?" (p. 23)
I have never been in such extreme situations as the aftermath of the Rwanda genocide, but I can relate to this kind of "ascension" from the mission field back to the US. It is surreal, and no one can really know what you are talking about. It's not just that you understand that it really has nothing to do with them. It is also that you are not sure it had anything to do with you, and if it did, what do you do about it?
What Haugen did about it was found The International Justice Mission.
Haugen is truly spiritual, deeply thoughtful, and firmly Biblical in what he does.
Please read it. It is well written and fairly easy to read, even though it will challenge you.
One more quote:
"For the little Filipino girl abducted into prostitution, for the Pakistani boy chained to a weaving loom, for the Latin American widow pushed off her land and even for the African father rotting in his prison cell without a charge or a trial, we share Christ's saving love on the cross and the servant love of our hands. As it was in days of old, 'it will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them." (Isaiah 19:20).
"Here I am, Lord. Send me!'"
(p36)
God will show us what it has to do with you and me if we make ourselves available to Him.
by Intervarsity Press
If you are involved at all in cross-cultural missions in any way, you really must read this book. Haugen was sent to Rwanda in 1994 as the director of the UN genocide investigation in Rwanda. After Haugen returned from there, his life was never the same again. His suburban lifestyle had been shaken up for good after he found himself, "standing in the middle of several thousand corpses in a muddy mass grave in a tiny African country called Rwanda?" (p. 21)
Instead of becoming bitter and pessimistic about the horrible conditions in the world and the terrible injustices, He started The International Justice Mission.
This is not an agenda-driven, politically correct organization that is concerned only with the injustices done to one class of people. Their work helps anyone they are able to help. They work through the legal systems, defending cases in the courts of the countries where their clients live. These are not your stereotypical attorneys, but are men and women who fight for justice on a case by case basis.
Their only agenda is justice for the oppressed while showing Christlike compassion.
Here are some quotes to give you the idea of what this man and his mission are about.
From chapter 1 - The Rage in Rwanda - A Suburban Christian Confronts Genocide
ASCENSION: COMING BACK FROM A HELL ON EARTH
Here Haugen compares some of his experiences in third world situations to Christ's Ascension from the earth, full of sinfulness, to Heaven.
"I have traveled from the slippery mud and corpses of mass graves in Rwanda to my usual seat at the right hand of my neighbor on our dependably boring and climate-controlled bus ride to my office in Washington, D.C. I remember reclining on a comfortable living-room couch, among friends and family in California, talking about soaring real estate values in Orange county when only days before I had been exhuming the remains of a woman raped and butchered by soldiers in the Philippines. Similarly, I recall watching from my train window as a low summer sun cast a Norman Rockwell glow across Little League fields in Connecticut when only days before I had been in a country where boys of a similar age but of a different color were being beaten like animals by the South African police."
He says that he felt the urge to make an announcement to his fellow commuters about what was happening in Rwanda. This urge, "came not from a desire to shock them but from a desire to somehow affirm for myself the human reality and relevance of my own experience. Could it really be true, and could it really have anything to do with me...?" (p. 23)
I have never been in such extreme situations as the aftermath of the Rwanda genocide, but I can relate to this kind of "ascension" from the mission field back to the US. It is surreal, and no one can really know what you are talking about. It's not just that you understand that it really has nothing to do with them. It is also that you are not sure it had anything to do with you, and if it did, what do you do about it?
What Haugen did about it was found The International Justice Mission.
Haugen is truly spiritual, deeply thoughtful, and firmly Biblical in what he does.
Please read it. It is well written and fairly easy to read, even though it will challenge you.
One more quote:
"For the little Filipino girl abducted into prostitution, for the Pakistani boy chained to a weaving loom, for the Latin American widow pushed off her land and even for the African father rotting in his prison cell without a charge or a trial, we share Christ's saving love on the cross and the servant love of our hands. As it was in days of old, 'it will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them." (Isaiah 19:20).
"Here I am, Lord. Send me!'"
(p36)
God will show us what it has to do with you and me if we make ourselves available to Him.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Diane Bish - Toccata on 'Christ the Lord is Risen Today'
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
--------
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is a Christian hymn associated with Easter. Most of the stanzas were written by Charles Wesley, and the hymn appeared under the title Hymn for Easter Day in Hymns and Sacred Songs by Charles and John Wesley in 1739. It remains the traditional processional hymn on Easter Sunday.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Jesus Christ Is Risen TodayThe hymn is a variation of an earlier hymn Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, a 14th century Latin hymn which had been translated into English and published in Lyra Davidica in 1708 (and later in 1749 in Arnold's Compleat Psalmodist). In some hymnals, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today is in fact the 3 stanza Compleat Psalmodist version with one or more of the additional stanzas written by Wesley appended."
Happy Easter!
This came out pretty small. You can click on the images to enlarge them. I really like it. Our friend Jenny sent it to us.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Veil of the Temple Torn in Two
Matthew 27:50-52
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Mark 15:37-39
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Luke 23:44-46 (New King James Version)
Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
John 19:29-30
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
------
I have been thinking about this great miracle of the temple veil being torn from top to bottom at the very moment Christ died for our sins. He had been on the cross, pouring out His lifeblood for us. He was made sin for us there on the cross. He died in our place. He took our punishment on Himself.
John records His words, "It is finished!"
Nothing more needs to be done to save us. Nothing more can be done to save us. We cannot add to or take away from the finished work of Christ. We in Him believe. We receive Him.
John 1:12,13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So, because our sins were paid for on the cross, and the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His wrath can now turn away from the sinner who accepts the sacrifice of Christ for his sin. He can now look at the sinner in a merciful, propitious way. He can now forgive the repentant sinner who believes in Christ. Now the sinner can be reconciled to God by faith in Christ.
Because of that, we can now enter right into the presence of God without fear of death. We don't have to stand on the outside looking in, so to speak. We can enter into fellowship with God Himself. Now the veil separating us from God has been torn in two.
No man tore the physical curtain in the temple from top to bottom. Think about it. It was a heavy object, made of several layers of material. It would be hard to start tearing it from the bottom in order to split it in two. The Bible says that this veil was split from top to bottom at the very moment Christ finished dying for our sins! When I was a kid, this miracle fascinated me and gripped my heart. How amazing!
Believe it. Receive it. Christ's death is for you.
-----
Question: "What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died?"
Answer: During the lifetime time of Jesus, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life. Here was the place that animal sacrifices were carried out and worship according to the Law of Moses was followed faithfully. Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the Temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the Temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7), enter into God's presence for all of Israel, and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).
From: Got Questions?
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Mark 15:37-39
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Luke 23:44-46 (New King James Version)
Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
John 19:29-30
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
------
I have been thinking about this great miracle of the temple veil being torn from top to bottom at the very moment Christ died for our sins. He had been on the cross, pouring out His lifeblood for us. He was made sin for us there on the cross. He died in our place. He took our punishment on Himself.
John records His words, "It is finished!"
Nothing more needs to be done to save us. Nothing more can be done to save us. We cannot add to or take away from the finished work of Christ. We in Him believe. We receive Him.
John 1:12,13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So, because our sins were paid for on the cross, and the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His wrath can now turn away from the sinner who accepts the sacrifice of Christ for his sin. He can now look at the sinner in a merciful, propitious way. He can now forgive the repentant sinner who believes in Christ. Now the sinner can be reconciled to God by faith in Christ.
Because of that, we can now enter right into the presence of God without fear of death. We don't have to stand on the outside looking in, so to speak. We can enter into fellowship with God Himself. Now the veil separating us from God has been torn in two.
No man tore the physical curtain in the temple from top to bottom. Think about it. It was a heavy object, made of several layers of material. It would be hard to start tearing it from the bottom in order to split it in two. The Bible says that this veil was split from top to bottom at the very moment Christ finished dying for our sins! When I was a kid, this miracle fascinated me and gripped my heart. How amazing!
Believe it. Receive it. Christ's death is for you.
-----
Question: "What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died?"
Answer: During the lifetime time of Jesus, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life. Here was the place that animal sacrifices were carried out and worship according to the Law of Moses was followed faithfully. Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the Temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the Temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7), enter into God's presence for all of Israel, and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).
From: Got Questions?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Holy Week Timeline
This is a good Timeline for Holy Week. Many Evangelicals are more unfamiliar with these events than we should be. It would be good to take some time to meditate on this most holy of weeks. It is holy since after these events, Christ's work was finished. We can now be saved and set apart to God through the merits of Christ and Christ alone. It isn't the week itself that makes us holy, set apart for God. It is what Christ did that makes us holy, sanctified, set apart for His service by faith in Him.
Superstitious religion sees the week itself and reinacting the events as somehow imparting merit. They miss the point. It is faith in the finished work of Christ that saves us, not the observation of religious ceremonies and traditions.
Even so, we are blessed when we remember what Christ did for us as recorded in the Word of God. This is the heart of the Gospel - Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day, then appeared alive to many people.
(1 Corinthians 15:1ff)
-------
The Last Week
A.D. 30
Sunday
Jerusalem
The Triumphal Entry
Mt 21:1-11
Mk 11:1-10
Lk 19:29-44
Jn 12:12-19
A.D. 30
Monday
Jerusalem
Jesus curses the fig tree
Mt 21:18-19
Mk 11:12-14
Jesus cleanses the temple
Mt 21:12-13
Mk 11:15-18
A.D. 30
Tuesday
Jerusalem
The authority of Jesus questioned
Mt 21:23-27
Mk 11:27-33
Lk 20:1-8
Jesus teaches in the temple
Mt 21:28-23:29
Mk 12:1-44
Lk 20:9-21:4
Bethany
Jesus anointed
Mt 26:6-13
Mk 14:3-9
Jn 12:2-11
A.D. 30
Wednesday
Bethany
The plot against Jesus
Mt 26:14-16
Mk 14:10-11
Lk 23:3-61
A.D. 30
Thursday
Bethany
The Last Supper
Mt 26:17-29
Mk 14:12-25
Lk 22:7-20
Jn 13:1-38
Bethany
Jesus comforts the disciples
Jn 14:1-16:33
Bethany
Gethsemane
Mt 26:36-46
Mk 14:32-42
Lk 22:40-46
A.D. 30
Thursday night & Friday
Bethany
Jesus' arrest and trial
Mt 26:47-27:26
Mk 14:43-15:15
Lk 22:47-23:25
Jn 18:2-19:16
A.D. 30
Friday
Golgotha
Jesus' crucifixion and death
Mt 27:27-56
Mk 15:16-41
Lk 23:26-49
Jn 19:17-30
Josheph's Tomb
The burial of Jesus
Mt 27:57-66
Mk 15:42-47
Lk 23:50-56
Jn 19:31-42
Superstitious religion sees the week itself and reinacting the events as somehow imparting merit. They miss the point. It is faith in the finished work of Christ that saves us, not the observation of religious ceremonies and traditions.
Even so, we are blessed when we remember what Christ did for us as recorded in the Word of God. This is the heart of the Gospel - Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day, then appeared alive to many people.
(1 Corinthians 15:1ff)
-------
The Last Week
A.D. 30
Sunday
Jerusalem
The Triumphal Entry
Mt 21:1-11
Mk 11:1-10
Lk 19:29-44
Jn 12:12-19
A.D. 30
Monday
Jerusalem
Jesus curses the fig tree
Mt 21:18-19
Mk 11:12-14
Jesus cleanses the temple
Mt 21:12-13
Mk 11:15-18
A.D. 30
Tuesday
Jerusalem
The authority of Jesus questioned
Mt 21:23-27
Mk 11:27-33
Lk 20:1-8
Jesus teaches in the temple
Mt 21:28-23:29
Mk 12:1-44
Lk 20:9-21:4
Bethany
Jesus anointed
Mt 26:6-13
Mk 14:3-9
Jn 12:2-11
A.D. 30
Wednesday
Bethany
The plot against Jesus
Mt 26:14-16
Mk 14:10-11
Lk 23:3-61
A.D. 30
Thursday
Bethany
The Last Supper
Mt 26:17-29
Mk 14:12-25
Lk 22:7-20
Jn 13:1-38
Bethany
Jesus comforts the disciples
Jn 14:1-16:33
Bethany
Gethsemane
Mt 26:36-46
Mk 14:32-42
Lk 22:40-46
A.D. 30
Thursday night & Friday
Bethany
Jesus' arrest and trial
Mt 26:47-27:26
Mk 14:43-15:15
Lk 22:47-23:25
Jn 18:2-19:16
A.D. 30
Friday
Golgotha
Jesus' crucifixion and death
Mt 27:27-56
Mk 15:16-41
Lk 23:26-49
Jn 19:17-30
Josheph's Tomb
The burial of Jesus
Mt 27:57-66
Mk 15:42-47
Lk 23:50-56
Jn 19:31-42
Sunday, March 22, 2009
More Darkness Into Light Photos
Isaiah 42
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
13th-century Scheldt bridge (Pont-des-Trous)- Tournai, Belgium.
Roman ruins, Italica, Andalucia, Spain.
Roman ruins, Italica, Andalucia, Spain.
Cathedral, Cadiz, Spain.
A narrow passageway, Granada, Andalucia, Spain.
I love to take photos that have symbolic meaning, at least to me. Here are more photos with a message.
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
13th-century Scheldt bridge (Pont-des-Trous)- Tournai, Belgium.
Roman ruins, Italica, Andalucia, Spain.
Roman ruins, Italica, Andalucia, Spain.
Cathedral, Cadiz, Spain.
A narrow passageway, Granada, Andalucia, Spain.
I love to take photos that have symbolic meaning, at least to me. Here are more photos with a message.
Darkness Into Light Before Them
A passageway in La Alhambra, Granada, Spain.
Isaiah 42
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
Isaías 42:16 (Reina-Valera 1960)
16 Y guiaré a los ciegos por camino que no sabían, les haré andar por sendas que no habían conocido; delante de ellos cambiaré las tinieblas en luz, y lo escabroso en llanura. Estas cosas les haré, y no los desampararé.
Isaías 42:16 (Reina-Valera Antigua)
16Y guiaré los ciegos por camino que no sabían, haréles pisar por las sendas que no habían conocido; delante de ellos tornaré las tinieblas en luz, y los rodeos en llanura. Estas cosas les haré, y no los desampararé.
Isaías 42:16 (João Ferreira de Almeida Atualizada)
16E guiarei os cegos por um caminho que não conhecem; fá-los- ei caminhar por veredas que não têm conhecido; tornarei as trevas em luz perante eles, e aplanados os caminhos escabrosos. Estas coisas lhes farei; e não os desampararei.
以 賽 亞 書 42:16 (Chinese Union Version (Simplified))
16 我 要 引 瞎 子 行 不 认 识 的 道 ， 领 他 们 走 不 知 道 的 路 ； 在 他 们 面 前 使 黑 暗 变 为 光 明 ， 使 弯 曲 变 为 平 直 。 这 些 事 我 都 要 行 ， 并 不 离 弃 他 们 。
Ésaïe 42:16 (La Bible du Semeur)
16 les aveugles, je les ferai marcher
sur une route qu'ils ne connaissent pas.
Oui, je les conduirai sur des sentiers dont ils ignorent tout.
Je transformerai devant eux leur obscurité en lumière
et leurs parcours accidentés en terrains plats.
Tout cela, je l'accomplirai
sans rien laisser d'inachevé.
Isaia 42:16 (La Nuova Diodati)
16Farò camminare i ciechi per una via che non conoscevano e li condurrò per sentieri sconosciuti; cambierò davanti a loro le tenebre in luce e i luoghi tortuosi in pianura. Queste cose farò per loro e non li abbandonerò.
I love to take photos that have symbolic meaning, at least to me. Here are more photos with a message. I took them on our trip to Europe last month.
13th-century Scheldt bridge (Pont-des-Trous)- Tournai, Belgium.
Roman ruins, Italica, Andalucia, Spain.
Roman ruins, Italica, Andalucia, Spain.
Cathedral, Cadiz, Spain.
A narrow passageway, Granada, Andalucia, Spain.
I love to take photos that have symbolic meaning, at least to me. Here are more photos with a message.
Street Signs in Spain
Run for it! Here come some crazy drivers!
Run faster!!!
Street signs in Cadiz. I thought that they were cute.
What do you do when every way forward is the wrong way? Go back! Go back!
A street sign on the property of La Alhambra in Granada, Spain. We thought it was funny.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
CHRIST THE DOOR INTO THE CHURCH
La Parroquia, Lebrija, Andalucía, España. Our daughter is teaching in that town this year. We visited her last month, and I took some photos. I really like this one.
These are beautiful words by the preacher Robert Murray McCheyne. Won't you enter into Christ's church? This happens when we are born again by the Holy Spirit of God. We then join a local body of believers called a church.
CHRIST THE DOOR INTO THE CHURCH
Robert Murray M’Cheyne
II. I come now to the second thing proposed, and that is, to shew you Christ's invitation. "I am the door; by me if any man enter in he shall be saved." There are many sweet invitations to sinners in the Bible; I have often felt these words to be the sweetest. There are some invitations addressed to those who are thirsty. It is said in Isaiah, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," etc. Christ said on the last day, that great day of the feast, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." And he says, near the end of Revelation, "I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Again, there are some invitations that are addressed to those that have a burden; "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Again, there are some that are addressed to those who are prisoners; "Turn you to the stronghold ye prisoners of hope." But this appears to me the sweetest of all, for it is said, "If any man." It is not said, if any thirsty man, if any weary man, if any burdened man, but if any man enter in he shall be saved. I have seen some rich men's doors, where none could enter but the rich; and where the beggar must lie at the gate. But Christ's door is open to any man, whatever your life, whatever your character may be. Christ is not like the door of some churches, where none can enter in but the rich; Christ's door is open to the poor; "To the poor the gospel is preached." Some, perhaps, can say, "I am the vilest one in this congregation," yet Christ says, "Enter in." Some, perhaps, can say, "I have sinned more than all; I have sinned against my father, I have sinned against my mother, I have sinned against mercies, and against judgments, against the invitations of the gospel, and against light," yet Christ says, "Enter in."
Observe still farther that the invitation is not to look at the door, but to enter in. There are many that hear about the door, but that is not enough; it is to enter in at it. And there are many that like to hear about the door, but yet they do not enter in. Ah, my brethren, that's a great cheat of the devil. I am persuaded many of you will go away this day well pleased because you heard about the door, but you do not enter in. There are many that go a step farther, they look in at the door, but yet they do not enter in. I believe that many of you are often brought there; but when it comes to the point, that you must leave your idols, that you must leave your sins, you do not enter in. "By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved."
Again, there are some who see other people enter in, but they do not enter in themselves. You, perhaps, have seen a father, or a mother, or a neighbour enter in; you have seen a change come over them, and a peace possess their minds, and you say, "I wish I were them"; but you do not enter in. Ah! if you would be saved, you must enter in at the door; convictions will not do, tears will not do, etc. And this is the reason why so many of you are not happy; you do not enter in.
I am the Door
A Hobbit's Door. At least it looked like one to me. This is a door in a wall in Northhamptonshire, England.
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We were in Europe lately for a couple of weeks visiting friends and our daughter. Our daughter is in Spain.
I love taking photos of doors, windows, lights, flowers, and other random things. My pictures aren't all that great, but for me they carry a lot of meaning. I love the imagery of Christ being the Door. When I see a fascinating door, I think of Him.
John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Yes, it's a different kind of door that Jesus is talking about. The door mentioned in John 10 involves an opening in the stone wall of a sheepfold. It is the shepherd himself who fills that gap, so in a very real sense, the shepherd is the door, a good shepherd, anyway. Through this opening, the sheep can go in and out and find pasture, Christ said. At least that is what I am told.
The idea is that if anyone wants to be saved, he or she must believe in Jesus Christ their Savior. He is the only Savior, the only Door, the only entrance into God's sheepfold. In order to get into that relationship with God, a person has to pass through the Door, Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep in that way. He gives His life for His own. He did that by dying on the cross for our sins.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
I found this one illustration of a sheepfold like the one that Jesus was talking about in John 10. Notice that the shepherd is sleeping in the opening. That way, no sheep can wander out into the darkness, and no predator can get in to kill the sheep. If necessary, the shepherd would give his life in defense of his sheep.
Christ did just that when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. He gave His life for His sheep, and now gives His life to His sheep, the ones who put their trust in Him.
Even so, I love ancient doors, especially the ones attatched to old cathedrals or old churches or just ancient buildings. We saw a lot of them in Europe, so I have a lot of door photos. Here are just a few. They are all in Spain. I liked Spain best. What an incredible empire they built!
A door in the wall around the Alcazar in Sevilla.
I think that this is a door into the parroquia in Lebrija.
I call this Door Vader. This is a sidedoor in the Parroquia in the town of Lebrija, where our daughter lives and teaches.
A door into an old monestary on the grounds of La Alhambra. This building is now a hotel.
A Moorish door in a building near La Alhambra in Granada.
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